Powerful clash on cards at Harbour

North Harbour's Tony Woodcock (centre) will have plenty of quality company in the battle with Taranaki tomorrow. Ross Land / Getty Images

Watch out for a battle of the hard men at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow.

All Black prop Tony Woodcock and powerful No 8 Nick Williams are back to bolster a Harbour side for what's shaping as a ding-dong contest against Taranaki.

Loosehead expert Woodcock, fresh from unhingeing two consecutive Wallaby front rows in the Tri-Nations, returns with Luke McAlister among the influx of test players into the second round of the Air New Zealand Cup this weekend.

He will have either the experienced Adrian Donald or newcomer Michael Reid and hooker James Hinchco for company against a Taranaki team not noted for taking backward steps and who traditionally dine out on fresh-faced forwards.

Harbour coach Allan Pollock will decide on his tighthead today. His dilemma has come about through the three-week ban on first choice Mike Noble after he punched a Tasman opponent last Sunday.

Williams missed the Tasman game with a niggling hamstring strain.

The burly Williams is among the more threatening loose forwards in the country with the ball in hand and his presence will be important against a Taranaki pack bolstered by All Blacks Jason Eaton and Andrew Hore and armed with a 130kg-plus prop in Census Johnson.

While Harbour got maximum points against Tasman, Taranaki missed out against Wellington, despite leading for much of the game, eventually losing 30-14.

"I thought Taranaki were sensational for the first 60 minutes against Wellington and they're never easy," Pollock added.

Bay of Plenty kick off their campaign in the capital tonight, hoping to put a disappointing 2005 behind them. The pre-season results weren't especially impressive but halfback Jamie Nutbrown said the newcomers in the side, of whom he is one, are working overtime to rectify their mistakes.

His personal ambition to prove himself after getting the flick from the Crusaders in favour of Kevin Senio for this year's Super 14 still lingers.

"There is a burning desire to go out and earn my spot week in week out," he said. "In saying that, I want to do the best for the Bay as well."

Nutbrown reckons if the Bay get their defensive organisation right and make sure their set pieces are cohesive, they'll be in business tonight.

Wellington welcome back All Black Conrad Smith, who is on the bench tonight but likely to get some play.

* Northland called the All Blacks scrum doctor Mike Cron north to try to resolve some set piece issues ahead of playing Canterbury in Whangarei tomorrow.

Southland's pack embarrassed Northland at times in last weekend's clash. Canterbury aren't likely to provide any relief either.

They will field an all-All Black front row of Campbell Johnstone, Corey Flynn and Greg Somerville, and to rub it in, Northland are without their mobile, classy Blues hooker Tim Dow. He has a hamstring injury and is replaced by Jamie Pinder.

Northland coach Mark Anscombe has worked overtime on the set pieces at practice this week and valued Cron's input.

"We got him up for a couple of sessions and it was superb."

Northland's seasoned captain and first five-eighths David Holwell is also out with a rib injury.

On-loan Auckland halfback David Gibson comes in for John Senio, thus avoiding a brotherly square-off with Canterbury's Kevin Senio.

* Auckland will name their team today to host Tasman on Sunday. They have four All Blacks available for selection: wings Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko, lock Ali Williams and hooker Keven Mealamu.

Tasman have retained halfback Kahn Fotuali'i, who came off the bench to score a clever try against North Harbour last weekend, which got their second half revival rolling, eventually earning a well-deserved bonus point.