Mika and Andrews - loose definitions

Luke Andrews has won plaudits for his unselfish play. Marty Melville / Getty Images

Are they locks, are they loose forwards?

It is a question which has circled the careers of Bradley Mika and Luke Andrews, who meet in tonight's major rugby clash at Eden Park.

The pair have excelled as loose forwards but this Air New Zealand Cup season they have been channelled towards the tight five with serious instructions about workrate.

Wellington assistant coach Chris Boyd has been extremely complimentary about Andrews' contribution, describing him as a player whose selfless efforts allowed others in the side to flourish.

Auckland, too, have been laudatory about Mika, a gifted athlete who played three tests for the All Blacks in 2002 but who has suffered mixed fortunes since.

There have been spells away from Auckland during Super rugby and regular positional switches. But this season Mika has been a lock, has trimmed his weight and both he and Auckland have benefited.

"I still dunno really what I am but I have been happy playing anywhere in this Auckland team," Mika said.

"This Auckland style suits my mentality, the way we throw the ball around, and I am trying to balance my game between the demands in the tight and chances in the loose. If I get that right then I guess I have done something right."

With loosies such as Daniel Braid, Andrew Blowers and Jerome Kaino on offer for Auckland and Ali Williams away on national duty and now injured, Mika has been pressed into work as the senior lock.

He got little work during the Super 14 but has been ever-present during the provincial series.

"I have built up my fitness playing all these games," he said. "That has been the greatest bonus but this game with Wellington will be up another level."

Andrews concurs.

"Auckland will be stronger in the tackle than Canterbury, they will be very aggressive and that will test all those things like cleaning out, ball presentation and exit.

"We like a good flow with the ball and so do they and that will be the key to this game.

"The danger with Auckland is that if they are well up or behind they tend to try and open up the game a lot and it will be our job to try and force them into being too elaborate because then they can make mistakes."

The concern for Wellington would be whether they could replicate the power and precision they showed to overwhelm Canterbury. Andrews agreed there was some apprehension about that but he was confident the occassion alone, would inspire his teammates.

He had never experienced the collective venom he did with Wellington last week, it was a feeling all teams strived for and was the challenge for them again tonight.

"Our organisation is there, we have tried to stay fresh and mentally we should be pumped for this."

The attitude would be player-driven and there were many ways to achieve that mood - from someone talking to another putting in an early inspirational tackle.

Both teams agreed they would take little from their pool match into this semifinal. That round-robin game had been ordinary quality but it did expose Auckland's lineout.

"They made a fool of us in that area," Mika recalled. "We hardly got any ball at all."

Former All Black Jamie Joseph was the man behind sharpening that setpiece for Wellington while this week Auckland have used some pointers from All Black assistant Steve Hansen.

"Wellington can play all over the park and that makes them a team to fear," Mika said.

"They play like us. They have the forwards, they have the firepower and they are very dangerous with guys like [Ma'a] Nonu. Our chances are okay, though. If we stick to our plans and take the intensity up a level we will go well."