KEY POINTS:
Members of the Keep Flavell At No 6 fan club will watch the big man's form with special interest against Taranaki at Eden Park tomorrow night.
Flavell played six times at blindside flanker for the Blues last year, missed the Air New Zealand Cup with injury, but has spent all his time this year at lock, including starting all 13 Super 14 matches.
His five test appearances were all in the middle row and tomorrow night is his third cup game of the season, after coming off the bench for the win over Waikato and starting against Southland last weekend - in both of which he was at lock.
There's a school of thought that he didn't get a fair crack to push his World Cup case in his better position.
That's history, but Auckland coach Pat Lam said he was keen to give Flavell a chance on the blindside.
"He's shown in the past he's very experienced," Lam said yesterday.
"It's just a case of understanding the lines, the places to be, and he's looking forward to playing there."
Lam also pointed out that if Flavell is on All Black standby - that list of players has not been revealed, but assume he is - then it serves a dual purpose. His ball skills are equally suited to both roles, he added.
Lam has made five changes as he looks to maintain Auckland's 100 per cent winning record tomorrow night.
Hooker Tom McCartney, having been recalled from his loan stretch at North Harbour, gets his first start; Jay Williams is back at lock, Flavell moving to replace Angus MacDonald, who broke a bone in his hand against Southland and is out for 4-6 weeks; Jerome Kaino returns at No 8; Daniel Braid is back at openside flanker; and Isa Nacewa regains the No 10 spot from promising Lachie Munro. Halfback Steve Devine, recovering from a bang on the head in round one against Counties Manukau, remains a week- by-week proposition.
"He's still suffering headaches, but we're hoping he'll be back in a couple of weeks," Lam added.
Auckland will wear their new jerseys for the first time tomorrow night. Their most prominent feature is a cure for the perennial bugbear of those in the faraway stands - large red numbers on a white background.
Taranaki are well off the pace this season, with a solitary win from four games. They have made two changes from the side edged out 18-15 by Otago last weekend, both in the backs. Shayne Austin starts in place of the injured Michael Tagicakibau and Brett Goodin comes into first five-eighths, Matt France dropping to the bench.
* Auckland's players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect for loose forward Ash Edwards, who played 30 times from 1966-73 before doing many years service in various administrative roles. He died last week, aged 65.
Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow
AUCKLAND
15. Brent Ward
14. Benson Stanley
13. Ben Atiga
12. Sam Tuitupou (c)
11. David Smith
10. Isa Nacewa
9. Taniela Moa
8. Jerome Kaino
7. Daniel Braid
6. Troy Flavell
5. Jay Williams
4. Kurtis Haiu
3. John Afoa
2. Tom McCartney
1. S. Taumoepeau
Reserves: Nick White, Chris Heard, Stan Haukinima, Brad Mika, Onosa'i Tololima-Auva'a, Grayson Hart, Lachie Munro
TARANAKI
15. Scott Ireland
14. Shayne Austin
13. Nathan Hohaia
12. Matt Harvey
11. Paul Perez
10. Jack Cameron
9. Brett Goodin
8. Tomasi Soqeta
7. Scott Waldrom
6. Jarrod Hoeata
5. Craig Clarke
4. Courtney Mackay
3. Hamish Mitchell
2. James Annabell
1. Tony Penn (c)
Reserves: Laurence Corlett, Daniel Middlemiss, Leon Power, Ray Stark, Matt France, Mark Stewart, Asalemo Malo
