View photosKEY POINTS:
On paper, it's the biggest mismatch since unknown club fighter Peter McNeely took on Mike Tyson.
Auckland, the 14-times champions, face Counties-Manukau at Eden Park this evening boasting nine former All Blacks in their starting line-up. They've got two more on the bench for good measure.
In terms
of international experience, Counties-Manukau have former Samoa rep Tanner Vili at fullback.
Effervescent Counties coach Kevin Putt may have stopped short of echoing McNeely's threat to wrap Tyson "in a cocoon of horror", but he did say his side would be out to make a mockery of odds that have Auckland as unbackable $1.04 favourites.
"It seems like no one is giving us a chance and that is when we are at our best," he said.
"We are really upbeat. We are aware it is a huge task but that is why you are in this division, to pit yourself against the best."
Auckland bristle with quality all over the field. In the one area they don't have All Black experience - the middle row of the scrum - they instead field the brother of an All Black. With elder sibling Ali to test his jaw in club rugby this afternoon, the 24-year-old Jay Williams will make his fifth Auckland appearance at lock.
Putt isn't really bothered who Auckland send out. "I think if you started to focus on them too much, you could psychologically talk yourself out of the game," he said.
"We don't want to play the game on paper. They no doubt have a great team with several All Blacks or ex-All Blacks involved, but let's hope we've got a number of future All Blacks. We'll be giving it everything."
Having copped an 85-34 pre-season walloping at the hands of Wellington two weeks ago, Putt said his side had been boosted by last weekend's convincing win over Northland.
"It really is chalk and cheese comparing the task at hand this week. But, having said that, it's all flesh and bone and that is how we are approaching it. We are going to be as constructive and destructive as we can."
Counties managed just a single win in their return to the top division last season but Putt is expecting a better return from this campaign. He said his side had improved their scrummaging and lineout, enabling them to play a more structured game.
"Our confidence in our first phase means we don't need to be as loose as a team that's not seeing much ball."
That said, a major part of the Counties game plan would be getting the ball out wide to winger Lelia Masaga, who was the top-scoring Kiwi in this year's Super 14 with eight tries.
Putt was not bothered his team had been written off in almost every quarter. "It's more about how we start to develop as a team."
For the record, McNeely lasted 37 seconds against Tyson before being disqualified when his trainer threw in the white towel, fearing he might be hurt.
It's hard to imagine Putt adopting that approach tomorrow.
"I'm absolutely buzzing but it's not about me," he said. "It's about the players."
It is and that's where Auckland would seem to have an insurmountable advantage.
