KEY POINTS:
Waikato coach Warren Gatland is weighing up whether to unleash human wrecking ball Sione Lauaki on Auckland from the get go on Saturday.
World Cup-bound Lauaki made a telling cameo appearance off the bench in Waikato's win against Southland but has been in camp with the All Blacks this week and is still well short of peak physical condition.
Saturday will be Lauaki's last game before the World Cup and Gatland, who has a fully fit squad to choose from, is weighing up the competing interests of his team and those of the All Blacks.
"It's not the ideal thing with him not having started this year and then being away with the All Blacks, so we'll make the decision on Thursday morning whether to start him or put him on the bench," Gatland said.
"Yes, you think about your own team but you also think that these players have another objective as well and that is the World Cup and you want to try and help that cause as well."
With Marty Holah back in the mix and Steven Bates and Liam Messam both in good form, Gatland has an embarrassment of riches in the loose forwards.
One thing is certain: Lauaki will feature at some point.
"It was nice to be able to bring someone of that calibre on at that time [against Southland] and he was pretty good," Gatland said.
"He's still probably a few weeks away from full fitness but he is definitely capable of changing a game or having a huge impact on a game."
A potential casualty of the return of Holah and the availability of Lauaki is promising No 8 Steven Setaphano, who started against Southland but may have to wait until Lauaki's departure to resume the role.
Another of Waikato's France-bound All Blacks, halfback Brendon Leonard, will definitely start after an improved showing against Southland despite the sodden conditions.
"He wasn't happy with his first start against Manawatu but I thought he showed some real class last weekend in difficult conditions," Gatland said.
"We didn't even do a review of [the Southland game] because you don't often play in those conditions, so there's not a lot you can take out of it. We've just done some generic [training] and concentrated on Auckland this week."
The game will be the first big test for both sides this season but Gatland wasn't obsessing about the outcome.
"We don't want to be firing all our bullets at this time of year. It is just about trying to improve week-to-week so, when it comes to quarter-finals and semifinals, hopefully we are going pretty well."
Gatland also doubted Auckland would be at their peak but said he had been impressed with the form of last year's beaten semifinalist.
Auckland coach Pat Lam will have a couple of selection posers of his own before Thursday's team naming. If halfback Steve Devine is cleared following the head knock he suffered against Counties Manukau, Lam will need to decide whether to slot him straight back into the starting line-up ahead of Taniela Moa, who has impressed in his outings to date.
Daniel Braid will also likely come into contention to start at openside after Onosai Tololima-Auva'a struggled against Bay of Plenty.
