Otago shuffle pack to trump Mehrtens

Brendan Laney is back and Jeff Wilson will play at fullback for Otago in the NPC first division final against Canterbury in Christchurch tomorrow night.

Laney, who came off the reserves bench in the last two matches, replaces Dan Parkinson in a reshuffled back three in the only change to the starting XV to the side who beat North Harbour in the semifinal last weekend.

Hayden Reid switches from fullback to the left wing, Wilson from the right wing to fullback while Laney will be on the right wing.

Otago coach Laurie Mains said after a light training session last night the change had been dictated by Canterbury first five-eighths Andrew Mehrtens' kicking game.

"Jeff has a real strength in reading play, getting to kicks and returning them effectively," Mains said. "Andrew Mehrtens is a long kicker of the ball, he does kick for position on the field and we need to counter that effectively or we're going to be under pressure."

Some Otago players are carrying niggling injuries, but Mains said he was able to select from the full squad apart from prop Carl Hoeft and loose forward Kelvin Middleton.

"The niggles are on the improve and we'll be close to 100 per cent by Saturday."

While this seems likely to be Mains' last game in charge of the Otago team, he would not confirm that last night.

"I said that 10 years ago [when Otago won the NPC in 1991] so I'm not prepared to say that now."

Asked what that meant, Mains said: "That means we don't know what's in the future."

Mains will take over the Highlanders' Super 12 side next year, with Wayne Graham and Greg Cooper expected to coach the NPC team.

Mains' expectations for the Otago side are uncomplicated.

"We've come a long way in what's been a difficult season. What I expect from the guys is what the proud traditions of Otago rugby demand, and that's an all-out assault."

Mains said the Otago players were aware they would not just be playing Canterbury but the entire Canterbury province.

"We are, but I'd like to feel when teams come here they feel the same thing. It's neither here nor there. We've been able to win away from home in two or three notable matches this year."

Mains said the Otago players would try to steer clear of the emotion and hype generated by an all-South Island final.

"We've worked very hard this week to keep our feet on the ground. While it is an NPC final, it is just another game and we're trying not to get too carried away."

Further north, a day before the final and nothing has changed for Canterbury's chief coach Steve Hansen.

Forget that he is leaving this month to become assistant to Wales coach Graham Henry and that Todd Blackadder and Matt Sexton are playing their last games for Canterbury after 258 appearances between them.

"I'm still here in Canterbury and I'm still coaching Canterbury. There's plenty of time to worry about that sort of thing when the game is over."

Hansen knows Otago will be a much different proposition to the side Canterbury beat 62-19 in Dunedin nearly seven weeks ago.

"Otago will improve because they've got quality people coming in in important areas like No 9 [Byron Kelleher], No 8 [Paul Miller], and Taine Randell's back with the leadership.

"They'll be approaching it [the final] with confidence, too, because they've been playing very well of late."

Canterbury will not name their side until this morning.

Otago: Jeff Wilson, Brendan Laney, Ryan Nicholas, Pita Alatini, Hayden Reid, Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Paul Miller, Sam Harding, Taine Randell (capt), Simon Maling, Filipo Levi, Kees Meeuws, Anton Oliver, Joe McDonnell. Res: Tom Willis, Carl Hayman, John Blaikie, Grant Webb, David Gibson, Seilala Mapusua, Dan Parkinson.

- NZPA