Reshuffled Steelers meet their relegation rivals

By CHRIS RATTUE

It might not quite be life and death, but it's pretty close to it for Counties Manukau - who have lost captain Danny Lee - and for Southland when they clash in the NPC tomorrow.

The match at Pukekohe Stadium always shaped as one of the key relegation battles of the season, and nothing in the first round suggested anything had changed.

Southland were brave but hardly adventurous against Auckland; Counties Manukau were completely outclassed most of the time against Waikato.

This match begins a run of four home games for Counties Manukau, who have been boosted by being able to start two of their strike weapons, fullback Loki Crichton and loose forward Koula Tukino, who have been injured.

But Lee is out because of illness, Blair Feeney takes over the captaincy, and 22-year-old Arama Graham, of Ponsonby origins, makes his first start at halfback.

A reshuffled Steelers starting side will include new wings Niva Tu'uaso and Billy Ngawini.

Southland stayed in their first game partly because of an ordinary first-half effort by Auckland, who still cruised to a bonus-try win without too much bother.

The winner tomorrow will be able to breathe much easier, although it will be too early to get the champagne out.

Whoever finishes bottom this year is automatically relegated and the only way back will be to win a promotion-relegation clash, which is a tough task for many reasons.

"I'd hate to look back at the end of the season and see that it [relegation] came down to just this game," said Southland coach Leicester Rutledge.

He has moved quickly to shore up one problem area from the game against Auckland by starting Jason Tiatia at fullback for Pailate Fili. Tiatia, a national Colt last year, is on loan from Canterbury.

And after having some problems in the scrums, where captain Brendon Timmins claimed his side were dealt to by some new techniques employed by Auckland, national Colt Clarke Dermody comes into the front row for Aaron Dempsey.

In the four years since being promoted to the first division, Southland have never won away. But they did score their solitary win last season over the Steelers.

It shapes as an even battle, with the changes to Counties Manukau's lineup probably giving Southland the advantage.