Air NZ cup preview: Northland looks to build on win

Northland vs Hawke's Bay
Whangarei, 4.35pm

The lowdown: Northland are looking to build on their remarkable one-game winning streak (it sounds a hell of a lot better than a 30-game losing streak) and will fancy their chances against the boys from the Bay. They have made one change from the side that beat Counties, with Kira Taihere replacing Brad Taylor at lock.

Hawke's Bay are coming off the bye after their impressive 51-29 shellacking of the Steelers the previous weekend but the bye is proving something of a poisoned chalice. Of the six teams who have sat out a round, only Waikato have won the following weekend.

Look out for: The Northland players celebrating properly this time. Last week they couldn't find anywhere for a drink on the way home - this time the kit man should hide a couple of dozen in the kit bag just in case.

What we think: It's certainly not a given but Northland should pick up their first home win since 2002. It should ensure a decent crowd and it will apparently be boosted by 60 of the faithful from hooker Tim Dow's church who will bus down from Kaitaia.

Northland -M. Milroy, S. Korovata, J. Levi, H. Taylor, R. Ranger, D. Holwell (c), D. Gibson, J. Paringatai, J. McKenty, J. Collins, K. Taihere, D. Goodwin, T. Dow, T. Coughlin. Reserves: J. Pinder, B. Murray, B. Taylor, J. Cocker, R. Caine, D. Bowden, M. Burkhardt-McRae.

Hawke's Bay - I. Dagg, R. Glover, N. Mauger, J. Wright, L. Raikabula, A. Clarke, D. Lee, W. Raihania, T. Ioasa/K. Lowe, M. Johnson, B. Evans, L. Lokotui (c), T. Symes, D. Logan, C. Newland. Reserves: H. Elliot, F. Taumalolo, P. Tokakece, K. Lowe/T. Fomai, C. Shepherd, D. Waenga, J. Wilson.