KEY POINTS:
Keven Mealamu and Isaia Toeava can end a distressing season on a high after Auckland coach Pat Lam indicated they would feature in his unbeaten side's NPC final against Wellington on Saturday night.
The All Blacks hooker, who missed New Zealand's World Cup quarter-final exit in Cardiff with a hamstring injury, could start on Eden Park while utility back Toeava - who made a brief cameo late in the 20-18 loss to France - will more likely see game time off the bench.
The duo are the only Auckland All Blacks considered for the Air NZ Cup climax.
Tasman-bound Ali Williams has played his last game for the province, having opted for a post-World Cup break, as has wing Joe Rokocoko.
Doug Howlett is still on holiday in Europe before he returns home to get married and return up north to play for Irish club Munster.
Wellington had said none of their World Cup players would be considered for the final, preferring to remain loyal to those who had toiled through the season, but softened that stance when captain Tamati Ellison was ruled out with an injured eye-socket.
All Blacks centre Conrad Smith and No 8 Rodney So'oialo, covering for injured openside flanker Serge Lilo, trained with the squad yesterday and it appeared that both would be in the playing squad to be announced tomorrow.
Neither have played for Auckland during an all-conquering 12-match campaign which included relieving Canterbury of the Ranfurly Shield but Lam was confident the pair would seamlessly slot into the squad's systems and prompt no disharmony.
Lam said the enthusiastic pair initiated contact after Auckland progressed to the final with a 38-3 drubbing of Hawkes Bay last weekend.
"Our whole philosophy after we qualified for the final was it was up to them [the All Blacks]. They said they were keen as and have been at training this week.
"They're in great nick, they've obviously done a lot of conditioning." Mealamu's hamstring strain survived a conditioning session on Monday, alleviating any concern about his fitness.
And, just as importantly, Lam was sure Mealamu and Toeava were in the appropriate mental state for another high pressure game.
"The key thing for me [at training] was looking at them mentally and they're back to where they were when they were with us," he said.
Incumbent hooker Tom McCartney will be the fall guy for Mealamu's return though Toeava appears hard pressed to break into a sharp backline featuring a midfield of Sam Tuitupou, Ben Atiga and fullback Brent Ward. He may replace Chris Mahoney on the bench when the team is named tomorrow.
Lam insisted the introduction of two "world class" players would not disrupt the squad or cause resentment, though Mealamu admitted last week that he was wary of replacing someone who had been an integral part of Auckland's run to the decider.
"Ultimately the best team should always play," Lam said. "Every year we average about 40 players - this year we've used 36."
- NZPA
