KEY POINTS:
Auckland rugby coach Pat Lam says Wellington's experience in the first two rounds of the Air NZ Cup will ensure there's no complacency within his own camp in coming weeks.
Having disposed of fellow title contenders Waikato last weekend, Auckland now have what looks like a comfortable run of fixtures until they are away to Canterbury at the end of next month.
The sequence for the competition leaders begins with a trip to Invercargill and a match against Southland tomorrow.
But Lam rejects suggestions that Auckland can now cruise towards a potential final-round head-to-head battle with Canterbury to determine the top qualifying spot for the playoffs.
He pointed to the way Wellington suffered a shock 6-8 loss to Hawke's Bay after thumping Otago 68-7 in the opening round.
"We don't see that at all, we see every game as a test," Lam said.
"Wellington found that out when they put 60 on Otago and lost to Hawke's Bay the following week."
Auckland were also invariably faced with opposing sides who lifted their intensity against them.
"It's their test match and we have to be on our game, otherwise we'll get bowled," he said.
"We're not even looking at Canterbury. It's all about the Stags this week."
Lam's wariness is based partly on experience. Auckland's two matches against Southland during his previous three seasons in charge were close contests.
In 2004, they had to defy a plucky set of opponents to come away from Invercargill with a 30-22 win.
In 2005, their escape at Eden Park was even narrower, by 38-37 after having led 29-3 at one stage.
"It just shows the mentality of the guys from the deep south," Lam said.
"Our boys are aware that we've got a real battle on our hands and we don't want to be high one week and down the next.
"Consistency is what we've worked through in the last three years and it's an area we want to maintain."
The cold, the travel and the passion of the home fans in Invercargill would be added challenges for his players.
"It's a real sporting town and they get well supported," he said.
"And then there's the travel down there. It's all the little things you have to deal with - just the whole environment of getting down there and knowing that you're in a bit of a cauldron."
That said, Lam has rotated his squad, making six changes to his starting 15.
They include giving three frontline players - first five-eighth Isa Nacewa, and former test flankers Daniel Braid and Jerome Kaino - a spell on the bench, citing their workload so far this year.
Another switch is including ex-All Blacks prop Saimone Taumoepeau at hooker, a position where he has previously been used in a backup capacity.
Among other players coming into the 15 are two more former All Blacks, Troy Flavell at lock and Angus Macdonald as blindside flanker.
- NZPA
