Otago wary of in-form Harbour

Otago need to get back on the winning track after last week's loss to Waikato, but playing North Harbour may be a much more awkward assignment than many punters believe.

Rookie fullback Glen Horton and lock Tom Donnelly need to come up to scratch and the heat will be on Tony Brown to kick the goals in the absence of Willie Walker at Carisbrook today.

Otago assistant coach Wayne Graham was yesterday confident the bases would be covered.

"We've got a lot of good, young players in the province and we're trying to give them a go," he said.

"It's a matter of blooding them quietly, when we feel the opportunity is right.

"Glen and Tom are two very good players and they'll step up."

It will be the first time Brown has kicked for goal in an NPC match this season, but Graham was optimistic he would be equal to the task.

"Tony's been practising away quietly."

Graham said there was disappointment in the Otago squad after they lost to Waikato.

"The guys tried very hard, but we just got it wrong with our tactical approach.

"We didn't execute the game plan well enough to win, and that was disappointing."

Lock Simon Maling was not considered because of a knee injury. He may be available for some game time against Northland in Whangarei next Saturday.

Graham said he expected North Harbour to throw everything at Otago in a bid to claw their way up the NPC table.

"They've had two good wins in a row and they're a serious threat."

Both sides have strong benches - Otago's including Byron Kelleher and Carl Hoeft and North Harbour's Troy Flavell and Blair Larsen - and they seem sure to be used.

Cooper said a lack of time to assimilate the Otago game plan was the main reason for playing Kelleher and Hoeft off the bench.

North Harbour have plenty of pace out wide and could pose Otago problems if their forwards secure quick, clean possession.

They also have a quick loose trio in Ron Cribb, Matua Parkinson and Craig Newby, guaranteeing a battle royal against Otago opposites Sam Harding, Josh Blackie and Kelvin Middleton.

Otago have won 15 of 22 games against North Harbour and eight out of 11 at Carisbrook. They cannot afford for that ratio to drop today.

fusixpoint

Otago: Glen Horton, Matt Saunders, Neil Brew, Brad Fleming, Seilala Mapusua, Tony Brown, Danny Lee, Sam Harding, Kelvin Middleton (capt), Peter Bowden, Josh Blackie, Tom Donnelly, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver, Joe McDonnell. Res: Tom Willis, Carl Hoeft, Filipo Levi, Samiu Vahafolau, Byron Kelleher, Mathew Berquist, Ryan Nicholas.

North Harbour: Tusi Pisi, Hosea Gear, Anthony Tuitavake, Rudi Wulf, Andrew Maelei, Nick Evans, Chad Alcock, Ron Cribb (capt), Matua Parkinson, Greg Rawlison, Marty Veale, Craig Newby, Tevita Taumeopeua, Joe Ward, Tony Woodcock. Res: Slade McFarland, Peter Bielski, Blair Larsen, Troy Flavell, Ben Meyer, Karl Te Nana, Dan Parkinson.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien. Kickoff: 5.35pm.

- NZPA

NPC points table