KEY POINTS:
Benson Stanley gets a reminder of just how quickly things have changed at Auckland every time he gets on the team bus.
This time last last year the promising centre would take his seat near the front, crouch down and hope none of the older heads near the
back would notice him.
These days he strides confidently towards his seat near the back and takes in the view in front of him with some bemusement.
It used to take the best part of a lengthy career to earn the seat where Stanley now sits. It has taken him just 21 games and a couple of seasons.
"Last year I was at the front of the bus keeping a low profile and making sure no one could see me," he said.
"This year I am pretty close to the back. The back used to be so far away I didn't even want to look there. Now I sit back there and look in front and it is quite staggering.
"You have got guys who have played six games and they are almost in the middle. That is unheard of. Before that you used to be truly rooted at the front, it was 'sit down boy'."
Auckland's bus load of young hopefuls will descend on Rotorua's optimistically-named International Stadium tonight needing a victory to breathe some life into their title defence.
Winless in three trips away from Eden Park this season, Auckland head into the match having scored just nine tries and a paltry 82 points in six matches. Third-placed Bay of Plenty, by comparison, have scored 19 tries in posting their five-win one-loss record.
Stanley admitted Auckland's lack of tries was in danger of affecting the team's morale. After last week's gripping but dour Ranfurly Shield defence against Southland, the Auckland dressing room was subdued.
"We've been pretty disappointed each week so far," he said.
"We haven't really had a game where we've come off and said 'mate, that was cracker'."
But Auckland's misfiring backline could be just a confidence-building try or two away from clicking, he said.
"That is what we are hanging out for but it is just not happening at the moment. We are confident that if we keep doing the work, don't get too down about things, keep getting excited and keep enjoying the game [it will happen]. It is a job but you can enjoy your job at the same time."
Coach Shane Howarth has named an unchanged backline, with Dean Budd replacing the injured Kurtis Haiu at blindside and Charlie Faumuina coming in for Nick White at prop the only changes to the pack.
Howarth will be hoping the settled nature of the side will help them find the rhythm they have been so badly lacking this season.
"It is time to make sure that we gel and get things right," he said.
"If we can get it out wide we have potency there. Rocks [Joe Rokocoko] and Davey [David Smith] are keen to get the ball in hand and we are keen to give it to them."