A level playing field for the second-tier sides

In a peculiar way, there could be more interest in the second-tier competition than the top-flight contest over the next three weeks of the Air New Zealand Cup.

The Top Six playoffs have one flaw: they're all guaranteed a quarter-final spot.

Sure, there's a big advantage in finishing first or second.

That guarantees not only a home quarter-final against one of the two teams to advance from the repechage but - given their relative positions and abilities - also a home semifinal, barring what would be an upset of Cook Strait proportions.

But the repechage is a different story.

All pool points have been wiped. The eight teams start from scratch and there is scope for a surprise.

At some point, most of those teams have shown reasonable form and will carry expectations of topping their group.

It all starts tonight, with the first of two Friday night doubleheaders.

Taranaki, who must start favourites for group B, host Northland in New Plymouth, followed by Hawkes Bay playing Manawatu in Napier in the opening group A clash.

Northland will be without lively wing Rene Ranger, who has a leg injury, and Hayden Taylor returns at fullback for Marshall Millroy from the side thumped 42-21 by Waikato last weekend.

Hawkes Bay, who have undergone the biggest form fluctuation in the championship - which after two rounds had them with a points differential of 0 for, 82 against - will expect to beat Manawatu.

If they are to have a chance of making the quarter-finals, they must win, as they have Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau to come.

Those teams clash at Mt Maunganui tomorrow. The likelihood is one of them will emerge in three weeks' time to take one of the final eight spots.

Southland, who have yet to display their best form, host Tasman, who are distinctly useful, in the final repechage game in Invercargill tomorrow.

And Tasman coach Dennis Brown probably spoke for his seven rivals yesterday.

"It's been fantastic to experience the challenges of the division, now we reset our goals and start afresh," he said. "We're on a level playing field aren't we? It's a new life and we can achieve all sorts out of the next three games.

"The quarter-finals are realistic for us."