BoP desperate to atone against Wellington

Wellington coach John Plumtree has urged his players not to take their foot off the national championship pedal as they hurtle toward a potential roadblock in Bay of Plenty at Westpac Stadium today.

"Bay of Plenty won't be happy with where they are at and will want to put things right, and that makes them more dangerous than if they had been winning," Plumtree said.

"We've got a lot of respect for Bay of Plenty, especially their pack. A lot of people underrate them, but every one of those players has played Super 12 rugby."

Highlighting the importance of today's match, Plumtree has given cornerstone loosehead prop Neemia Tialata until kick-off to recover from a painful foot injury.

After back-to-back losses, Wellington appeared to have rediscovered their confidence by thumping Waikato last week, but Plumtree warned the noose remained firmly around his players' necks.

"It's about trying to bottle what we had last week against Waikato and making sure we have the same enthusiasm and commitment."

A third loss would not end their playoff hopes, but it would bring back their insecurities.

"We've done our homework on them and know where we want to attack, but we have learned this season that it comes down to who wants it most."

Bay of Plenty coach Vern Cotter is hoping his team have the most desire as they sit on the brink of elimination from the playoffs after one win from four games.

"We have been making progress, but it's been slow," he said. "We are looking to lift what has been patchy form for 80 minutes."

The key to Wellington's chances could be whether Tialata plays. If he doesn't, prop John Schwalger will make his NPC run-on debut.

Wellington will lose nothing in size, but Schwalger, a New Zealand Colt, will be an obvious target for the powerful Bay front row of Simms Davison, Aleki Lutui and Ben Castle.

The Bay pack have performed well this year, but the loss of 2003 first five-eighths Glen Jackson has hit hard in the backs.

Murray Williams lacks the kicking game and for that reason Wellington will be favoured to snap a three-game losing streak at Westpac Stadium stretching back to last year's final against Canterbury.

The match promises to be a free-flowing affair.

Meanwhile, in Whangarei, Northland captain David Holwell would gladly trade the notable career milestone he will reach in their match against Canterbury today.

Holwell goes into the 200th first-class match of his career since 1995 caring little of the individual landmark.

He would willingly exchange it for a result in Northland's favour, something few expect to unfold as the home side strive to break their NPC duck against the divisional heavyweights.

"I don't really give a toss how many I have played, I just want to win one to remember how it feels," Holwell said.

He will become the fifth New Zealand-based player to reach the 200-match mark not to have played for the All Blacks.

- NZPA