KEY POINTS:
Waikato might be odds-on to land the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday, but North Harbour rugby coach Wayne Pivac says don't underestimate his team's desire to hang on to the coveted trophy.
Pivac has no complaints about the view of most neutrals that Harbour face a tough ask in pulling off their fourth, and most difficult, shield defence.
"Waikato will be favourites with the TAB and with a lot of people, based on current form, and they should be," he said.
"But it's a shield game, we're playing at home and there's a lot at stake."
The TAB has Waikato, whose only blip so far in the Air NZ Cup is a defeat to title favourites Auckland, at just $1.20 to get their hands on the Log o' Wood for the first time since 2000.
Meanwhile, the young Harbour side's stuttering start to their cup campaign has them paying a healthy $4.25 to get past the Mooloos.
Harbour's four cup outings so far have produced a narrow shield win over Taranaki, two draws and last Friday's upset defeat to Hawke's Bay.
But Pivac said there had been no problems in keeping the mood positive in his camp this week - the shield was doing that.
"To be honest, the weeks that we've played with the shield, it's not been a problem getting them up," he said.
"The guys love playing at home here. They love playing for the Ranfurly Shield. It means a lot to them."
To add to the occasion, Harbour great Wayne Shelford, the former All Black skipper who was also the union's first captain, will present the players with their jerseys on the eve of the match.
Pivac has made just one change to his starting 15, with Junior All Black utility Rudi Wulf back from an ankle injury and slotting in at centre.
There was a further boost with first five-eighth Tusi Pisi declared fit to play after a leg injury suffered against Hawke's Bay turned out to be less serious that feared.
One key area of attention for Harbour this week has been eradicating basic errors that have blighted their performances.
"Our awareness, our reaction time to situations has let us down, in particular last weekend," Pivac said.
"The guys are well aware of the mistakes they've made. We've gone through every one, painful as it is to look at. It's a matter of individuals preparing well and doing that extra work this week."
The predicted dry conditions should suit Harbour's pacy backline, which includes the likes of dangerous second five-eighth Anthony Tuitavake and flying winger Villiame Waqaseduadua.
Up front, the holders will have to deal with the strong loose forward trio of Liam Messam, Marty Holah and Steven Bates, and a front five that Pivac has plenty of respect for.
Behind the pack will be experienced hand of Stephen Donald at first five-eighth.
"There's probably not a lot of household names in the tight five, but they certainly work very well together," Pivac said.
"Their loose forwards are very good and of course, their No 10 - there's not many better in the country at the moment."
- NZPA
