KEY POINTS:
All Blacks Keven Mealamu and Isaia Toeava have been predictably squeezed on to Auckland's bench for Saturday night's Air NZ Cup rugby decider against Wellington at Eden Park.
Coach Pat Lam confirmed the forecast changes when naming an unchanged starting line-up for the climax to the provincial season.
Hooker Mealamu replaces front rower Chris Heard on the bench while utility back Toeava denies Chris Mahoney a place in the match-day 22.
Lam had no hesitation in allowing the World Cup duo to be involved after they contacted management when Auckland progressed to the final after comfortably beating Hawke's Bay 38-3 last weekend.
Mealamu and Toeava returned with the first group of All Blacks last Wednesday and although they have had minimal preparation time - and are yet to play for Auckland during their unbeaten campaign Lam and the players were confident their impact off the bench would not be detrimental.
"It was real easy to get the All Blacks into the mix," Lam said, who was particularly happy to have Mealamu back involved.
With Derren Witcombe's neck injury ending his career after the opening round against Counties Manukau, Auckland have had to rely on Tom McCartney - who was recalled from a loan spell with North Harbour in round five - and a reluctant prop Saimone Taumoepeau to cover the hooking duties.
"We've been really blessed we haven't had a major injury to Tom, he's come through and really developed and now to have someone with Kevvy's experience, his whole mana and presence, on the bench is great," Lam said.
Toeava's greater versatility also saw him predictability replace wing/fullback Mahoney.
Mealamu missed the All Blacks' shock World Cup quarterfinal exit to France with a hamstring strain but survived a conditioning period on Monday to strengthen his case for inclusion.
Casting fitness concerns aside, Mealamu was also relaxed at the prospect of playing for Auckland for the first time since their semifinal defeat by Wellington a year ago.
He did not believe limited preparation would count against him, nor the fact he would be throwing to relatively unfamiliar locks Jay Williams and Kurtis Haiu.
"I've played under Pat for a while now, everything's pretty similar to what we've normally had so fitting in hasn't been hard," he said.
"I've played alongside a lot of them so hopefully it fits like a glove."
Apart from bolstering his quality bench by bringing back two of his big guns - Ali Williams and Joe Rokocoko opted to extend their break - Lam has stuck with the same squad that dismantled Hawke's Bay in the wet last Saturday night.
"It's the first time we've had the same starting team .... but the 22 who go out represent the (16) others we've used this year."
The vagaries of the competition draw dictates the finalists have not met since last year's semifinal, where Wellington upset Auckland on Eden Park, but Lam doubted there would be any secrets between the sides.
"We've methodically done our homework and analysis. We know they're physical and they've got game breakers.
"They can be a troubling team if you let them - our challenge is to stop them playing and impose our game on them."
AUCKLAND
Brent Ward, David Smith, Ben Atiga, Sam Tuitupou (captain), Benson Stanley, Isa Nacewa, Taniela Moa, Brad Mika, Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Jay Williams, Kurtis Haiu, John Afoa, Tom McCartney, Saimone Taumoepeau.
RESERVES
Keven Mealamu, Nick White, Troy Flavell, Angus Macdonald, Grayson Hart, Lachie Munro, Isaia Toeava.
- NZPA
