David Leggat: Top-of-table Bay will be steaming over absence of bonus points

Bay of Plenty's self-belief is growing with every win. Photo / Getty Images

Bay of Plenty have done most things right this season.

If they could have the last few weeks again, they might have tried to rectify their bonus point situation, which stands at 0 after six games.

So far, so good, however, as they sit top of the table heading south to play the other team on 20 points, Southland in Invercargill tonight.

Taranaki are the only others in the 14-team Air New Zealand Cup still without a bonus point, from either scoring four or more tries or losing by seven or less points.

Contrast that with Otago, who sit seventh, have won two of six games, yet are averaging a bonus point a game.

Bay of Plenty will be hoping that bonus statistic does not come back to haunt them later in the championship. Their win last weekend over defending titleholders Canterbury was achieved on the back of a resolute defence.

Pride and self-belief are growing with every win and should get tested again tonight by a Southland side buoyed by the return of gifted 20-year-old Robbie Robinson at first five-eighths.

A familiar name will make his starting debut for Waikato against Tasman in Blenheim tonight.

While Mils Muliaina is readying himself for the Springboks, younger brother Alesana will be on the left wing tonight, replacing Dwayne Sweeney, after turning in some handy performances for the Waikato development team.

Muliaina has signed a one-season contract with Waikato.

After back-to-back wins over Counties-Manukau and Hawkes Bay, it will be a decent test of Waikato, for whom lock Kevin O'Neill will play his 50th game.

Tasman have a good forward pack, in which the likes of No 8 Mark Bright and flanker Jonathan Poff are quality performers.

Captain Andrew Goodman kicks the goals - he has nailed 24 of 28 and no one in the competition is better than his 86 per cent success rate - and there are some pacy, enterprising backs, among whom wings James Kamana and Blair Cook have shared seven tries.

Anthony Boric returns to the North Harbour lineup for their match against Hawkes Bay at Albany tomorrow.

He fractured a big toe at the end of April and it has been a slow healer. With an All Black trip to the Northern Hemisphere on the horizon, Boric should be keen to make up for lost time.

Ben Afeaki returns to the front row, from the side edged out 17-13 by Taranaki last week, with Tony Woodcock on All Black duty while regular captain Anthony Tuitavake returns to the bench after missing a couple of games with a pelvic injury.

Hawkes Bay return Jason Kupa to the right wing, and Clint Newland starts at tighthead prop after a powerful showing from the bench against Waikato last week.