Top teams in sprint to get games at home

The country's top six provinces embark on the rugby equivalent of a 100m sprint tonight.

And while Auckland and Waikato will have calculated they can afford a loss and still be strong contenders to head the playoff group, North Harbour don't have that luxury.

The Air New Zealand Cup format means the top four teams get home quarter-finals. But the real challenge for them is to make the top two.

They are the sides who will have home quarter-finals against the repechage pool winners. Logic dictates those are the easiest opponents to draw in the last eight. And that means chances of a home semifinal are greatly enhanced.

"That's what everyone is after," North Harbour coach Allan Pollock said ahead of tomorrow's match against Otago at North Harbour Stadium.

Harbour have 23 points, the same as Otago and Canterbury and two adrift of leaders Auckland. Barring draws, either Auckland or Waikato will take a solid step towards a top-two finish at Eden Park tonight.

Wellington, bottom on 21 points, play Canterbury, so if Harbour slip up in their only home game of a compact stage, they've got big problems.

"Our season will be judged on how we perform in that quarter-final and we want to give ourselves the best chance of success," Pollock said.

He sees no point in trying to calculate how many points would secure a quarter-final at Albany on the weekend of October 6-8.

Pollock has retained hooker Roger Dustow and halfback James Rodley from the team who beat Manawatu last week and with wing Vili Waqaseduadua back after a week off to return to Fiji for personal reasons, Jonah Lomu is back on the bench.

Otago's chances revolve round their pack doing the job and enabling Nick Evans to drive them forward. He's been in fine touch this season. Only Auckland fullback Brent Ward has scored more points, but more than simply numbers on the board, Evans offers a sharp attacking edge.

There will be an element of emotion for Otago as Seilala Mapusua plays his 74th and last game for the province tomorrow, having obtained an early release to head off to his new career at London Irish.

Canterbury revert to a first XV look for the trip to the capital tomorrow, after giving several bench players a start against Counties Manukau a week ago.

Captain Corey Flynn, veteran back Caleb Ralph, promising flanker Kieran Read and All Black-halfback-in-waiting Andy Ellis return to the lineup.

* In the repechage competition today, Southland host Tasman in Invercargill and Bay of Plenty face Counties Manukau in what will be a test of how well the visitors can maintain what has been an encouraging return to the top flight.

North Harbour v Otago
Albany, 2.35pm tomorrow

North Harbour
George Pisi, V. Waqaseduadua, Anthony Tuitavake, Rua Tipoki (c), Rudi Wulf, Tusi Pisi, James Rodley, Nick Williams, Regan Tamihere, Anthony Boric, Doug Fletcher, Ryan Wilson, Mike Noble, Roger Dustow, Adrian Donald
Reserves: James Hinchco, Michael Reid, Vili Ma'afu, Francis Stowers, Junior Poluleuligaga, Joel Nasmith, Jonah Lomu

Otago
Glen Horton, Ben Smith, Neil Brew, Seilala Mapusua, Greg Zampach, Nick Evans, Chris Smylie, Adam Thomson, Josh Blackie (c), Alando Soakai, Tom Donnelly, Filipo Levi, Chris King, Jed Vercoe, Keith Cameron
Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Grant Polson, Pelu Pavihi, Ezra Taylor, Toby Morland, Callum Bruce, Craig Clare

Wellington v Canterbury
Westpac Stadium, 4.35pm tomorrow

Wellington
Shannon Paku, Lome Fa'atau, Tana Umaga, Ma'a Nonu, Cory Jane, Jimmy Gopperth, Alby Mathewson, Thomas Waldrom, Ben Herring, Luke Andrews, Jeremy Thrush, Ross Filipo, John Schwalger, M. Schwalger, Joe McDonnell (c),
Reserves: Luke Mahoney, Anthony Perenise, Victor Vito, Serge Lilo, Jason Spice, Conrad Smith, Tamati Ellison

Canterbury
Paul Williams, Scott Hamilton, Casey Laulala, C. McIntyre, Caleb Ralph,
Stephen Brett, Andrew Ellis, Mose Tuiali'i, Johnny Leo'o, Kieran Read, Kevin O'Neill, Craig Clarke, Wyatt Crockett, Corey Flynn (c), C. Johnstone
Reserves: Steven Yates, Aaron Bancroft, Kevin Senio, Tone Kopelani, Franks/Borlase, I. Ross, H. Hopgood