KEY POINTS:
A week might be a long time in sport but a fortnight can be an eternity.
Two weeks ago, North Harbour advised that their press day would be in the shape of a formal press conference.
The move was a sensible way to deal with the unprecedented media
interest in the Ranfurly Shield holder's looming defence against Waikato.
Coach Wayne Pivac, for example, would be spared the torture of answering the same questions over and over for the multitudes of eager television, radio and newspaper reporters.
Yesterday, there were no television cameras to be seen at Harbour's rain-soaked training ground. Nor were there any radio microphones. In fact, the Herald and the North Shore Times were the only media there.
Without the crutch of Shield fever to lean on, the inescapable feeling is that Harbour's season is as good as over.
Pivac did his best to put a brave face on a season that has yielded just two wins to date but the side he named to face Wellington is a shadow of the one he'd really like to send out in the capital.
"There's been a lot of injuries and, unfortunately, a lot of serious injuries," said Pivac of his dwindling resources. "This is my 11th year as a professional coach and I have never seen anything like it."
Gone for the season are captain Nick Williams, backup No 8 Viliame Ma'afu, flanker Chris Smith, first choice prop Mike Reid and halfback Luke Hamilton.
With prop Sam Biddles once again sidelined and experienced back Zar Lawrence unable to play a single minute this season due to stress fractures, Pivac's cupboard is well and truly bare.
Among those to get their chance against the Lions are B-team call-ups Francis Stowers, Doug Fletcher and Joe Savage.
Jack McPhee gets another chance at first five-eighth after slotting in an unannounced change against Manawatu last week, while Tom Chamberlain returns to the starting line-up on the blindside flank.
Anthony Boric will partner stand-in skipper Greg Rawlinson in the second row, replacing Doug Fletcher.
Wellington have delayed naming their side until 7.30pm tonight, the latest possible time under the squad declaration rules.
