Upstaged Aucklanders expect torrid reception

Ali Williams has developed into an impact player off the bench. Ross Land / Getty Images

The Ranfurly Shield may be missing from Jade Stadium's sideline but the old trophy's absence has hardly taken the sting out of New Zealand rugby's keenest rivalry.

Contests between Canterbury and Auckland invariably tend to be high intensity occasions regardless of whether the Log o' Wood is part of the equation.

The defending provincial champions, for one, are expecting a traditionally torrid reception when they head to Christchurch for tomorrow night's feature match.

Table-topping Auckland could be forgiven for feeling a little miffed considering Canterbury seemed hell-bent on handing the shield over to their cross-harbour rivals, though players and staff were putting on a brave face at training yesterday.

Skipper Sam Tuitupou, for example, pocketed a tidy collect after backing his Blues brothers to get up on Sunday, while coach Pat Lam emphasised a shield challenge was only ever a "bonus" in the greater scheme of things.

"Our focus has always been the Air New Zealand Cup.

"The shield was always going to be a bonus - and it's great that it went to Harbour."

Great it may have been, but Lam believes Harbour's stunning upset has not made his task any easier, despite an ability to reintroduce All Blacks Doug Howlett, Ali Williams and Keven Mealamu.

"We know it's going to be tough. You can imagine what Canterbury's training have been like this week.

"They always get up for Auckland anyway."

Lam only watched the last few minutes of Harbour's historic 21-17 victory, long enough to form an opinion shared by those who watched the entire drama unfold.

"Everyone knows they blew that game, they had so many opportunities."

One chance Canterbury haven't missed is the opportunity to slot All Blacks pivot Daniel Carter back into their starting line-up.

The return of Aaron Mauger and Leon MacDonald hardly made a difference last week but coach Rob Penney had no hesitation in giving the first five-eighth just his 20th provincial appearance since debut in 2002.

"It's pleasing to have Dan back in the mix," said an understated Penney.

Carter is refreshed after a post Tri-Nations break in the Pacific Islands and keen to help the side make amends.

"Losing the shield was pretty tough for the boys and I felt for them. We all know that we're better than that game," he said.

Canterbury still have hopes of securing a home quarter-final though Wellington can nail fourth spot tonight providing they reap maximum points against Otago.

Setting the Wellington scenario aside, Penney said the high-flying Aucklanders were a litmus test for his shaken squad, describing the clash as an "important game for us both in terms of recapturing our confidence and regaining momentum for the play-offs".

Confidence is scarcely an issue for Lam, as Auckland's free-wheeling approach has again proved a winning formula.

Auckland are the competition's most prolific scorers with 275 points in eight games - Waikato are next with 246 - but their defence is the real point of difference from 2005.

They conceded 219 in nine round-robin games last year - but leading into this weekend Auckland have surrendered just 92.

"We conceded too many tries last year, now we're way ahead of everyone on attack and defence," Lam said.

His biggest headache is often how to accommodate an embarrassment of riches into the game day 22.

Lam has the luxury of bringing in Howlett on the right flank while Joe Rokocoko, who was unable to train all week after tweaking a hamstring, is bracketed in the reserves with rookie David Smith.

It is also Isaia Toeava's turn to switch with Ben Atiga in the centres, and up front, Williams and Mealamu will be ushered back from the bench.

In the other change to the line-up which thumped Otago 48-7 last week, halfback Steve Devine starts in place of Taniela Moa.

- NZPA