Northland face double hurdle

When they needed a lift, when they needed any change in their NPC fortunes, Northland have run into double disquiet this week.

First five-eighths and skipper David Holwell is resting a tender shoulder while their next opponents, Auckland, will be smarting from their first defeat of the competition.

Holwell has been struggling with his injury for the past few games and assistant coach Donny Stevenson was unsure whether he would return for this Saturday's Eden Park game.

"We had a Sunday game and David is still in a bit of discomfort. We will see how he scrubs up at the next training," Stevenson said.

"He creates a huge impact for us with his leadership while he has such a high tackle count for one of the lightest guys in the squad. He is an integral part of this side."

Others in doubt for the trip south were utility back Jared Going and prop Stan Wright. There would not be much selection shuffling for round seven of the NPC - Northland did not have a great deal of choice with their playing resources.

"The 'Naki did not do us any favours either, did they," Stevenson said of Auckland's conquerors last weekend.

"[Auckland] will be really ratty with that, especially as it is getting a bit tight in the top four. We are expecting Auckland to be very strong and it seems to be our luck to strike teams coming off defeats."

Stevenson and the new coaching staff had been encouraged by the Northland response in playing Canterbury.

But he said there had been a drop in the side's standards last week in the second half against Otago.

"We want to get it right and we have one home game left [against Southland] and we want to put up a good showing there," Stevenson said.

Taranaki had pinpointed some areas where Auckland were vulnerable and that information had been absorbed into the Northland planning and training last night.

"Auckland back themselves, they play a high-risk game, but good defence can put them under pressure. That is the sort of outlook we have to carry into the game."