KEY POINTS:
Canterbury will need to lift their intensity to the level that won them the Ranfurly Shield to overcome Wellington tonight, says coach Rob Penney.
Relentless pressure from the opening whistle laid the foundation for Canterbury wresting the shield away from Waikato in Hamilton on September 1 in an authoritative and clinical 33-20 rugby win.
That intensity was lacking in Canterbury's tame defence four weeks later when Auckland claimed the shield for the summer and finished the Air New Zealand Cup's round-robin stages at the top of the table.
Penney was adamant after Canterbury's training session they would need the "same sort of intensity" to have any chance of success against a powerful Wellington side boasting such game-breakers as Ma'a Nonu and Corey Jane.
"They've got a lot of strike-power and it's not only those two - they've got other game-breakers as well," Penney said.
"Certainly there are lots of elements in that game against Waikato earlier in the year that we'll have to have with us on Friday night."
Dynamic flanker Johnny Leo'o's welcome return from injury highlights Canterbury's changes for the semifinal in Christchurch.
He is back after cracking his ribs against Tasman three weeks ago to play his 71st match for Canterbury, and possibly his last on home turf.
Leo'o, who has played for the province for eight years, is off to France at the end of the month to join the Paris Metro club.
Canterbury have made two other changes to the side that eliminated Otago 44-6 in last weekend's quarter-final.
Lock Kevin O'Neill returns in the place of Isaac Ross after having his workload lightened last week, while Tim Bateman takes over at second five-eighths from Hamish Gard after successfully returning from injury in the second half of the Otago match.
Bateman marked his return with a try after not playing since Canterbury's success against Waikato.
Gard and Ross will be on the bench.
Hardman No 8 Mose Tuiali'i remains on the injury list after failing to recover from a back injury that flared on the eve of the quarter-final.
Tuiali'i's replacement last Saturday, 19-year-old Nasi Manu, impressed enough to earn another start against Wellington.
Penney said he had "no qualms" about starting Leo'o once he'd passed a thorough fitness test.
Canterbury delayed their team announcement until Leo'o's fitness was assessed and confirmed.
"He's ready to go and looking forward to it," Penney said.
"Obviously it's going to be a special occasion for him but the team had to come first."
Leo'o said he was itching to get back on the field.
"I just worked my arse off to get back because I wanted to get back before the season was over.
"I wouldn't have missed this game for the world. If I'd broken a leg, I would've still tried to get out there and play at least a minute."
Leo'o agreed that Canterbury needed to lift their intensity and try to dominate Wellington from the kick-off.
"It's going to be pretty tough. They're pretty strong up front and have good ball carriers," he said.
"We'll try to nullify their strengths with intensity and courage."
Penney paid tribute to Leo'o as a "great servant" to Canterbury rugby.
"He's been a massive contributor. He'll certainly be missed, but people have to move on with their lives."
- NZPA
