KEY POINTS:
Tasesa Lavea has one game to prove he is the man to lead Auckland to national championship glory.
Having been sidelined by injury for Auckland's entire nine-match undefeated campaign, Lavea's recall would seem to owe more to his former standing as the team's premier playmaker than any dire need.
Isa Nacewa and Lachie Munro have split time in the pivot role, both with some success, but coach Pat Lam clearly feels Lavea's service to the province merits at least an audition for the bigger games to come.
"He hasn't played all year but he has been our number one first-five for the last three years," Lam said.
"It has been great that Lachie has stepped up to the plate but we wanted to give Tasesa a chance this week to see where he is at."
Lavea's recovery may have come just in time for him to end his Auckland career on a high note ahead of his switch to Counties Manukau next season.
The former Kiwis league international has had some game time for Auckland's B team in recent weeks but Lam might well have baulked at throwing him into the mix in a playoff match - or in next week's Ranfurly Shield match against Canterbury.
"We're starting him against Otago," was all Lam would say when asked if Lavea would have got the nod for the trip to Christchurch.
Regular centre Ben Atiga also returns to the line-up after three weeks out with a hamstring injury. Atiga's return sees Benson Stanley pushed out to the wing, while Nacewa switches to fullback to spell Brent Ward.
"Ben was the form centre for the whole competition at the time of his injury, that's why he's come straight back in," Lam said.
"And Brent has played every game so he is the last one to get a bit of a break."
New Zealand sevens captain DJ Forbes has been included on the bench after regular opensides Daniel Braid (shoulder) and Onosa'i Tololima Auva'a (head) were both ruled out.
Jerome Kaino will start at openside, while prop Saimone Taumoepeau has also been restored to the starting line-up in place of Chris Heard.
In recent weeks Auckland have carried five forward reserves but with Grayson Hart and Munro joining Ward on the bench, Lam has named a three-back four-forward split.
"The reason we have had five forwards in the reserves is because that was all we had in the backs," Lam said.
"There have been so many guys injured but they are all coming back at the right time. The pleasing thing is that everyone who had an opportunity took it so everyone is jockeying for position, which is a good thing for us."
Otago have named hooker Tom Donnelly as captain in place of the injured Craig Newby.
Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow
AUCKLAND
15. Isa Nacewa
14. Benson Stanley
13. Ben Atiga
12. Sam Tuitupou (c)
11. David Smith
10. Tasesa Lavea
9. Taniela Moa
8. Brad Mika
7. Jerome Kaino
6. Troy Flavell
5. Jay Williams
4. Kurtis Haiu
3. John Afoa
2. Tom McCartney
1. Saimone Taumoepeau
Reserves: Nick White, Chris Heard, Angus Macdonald, DJ Forbes/Chris Lowery, Grayson Hart, Lachie Munro. Brent Ward.
OTAGO
15. Charlie Hore
14. Karne Hesketh
13. Ben W Smith
12. Aaron Bancroft
11. Matt Saunders
10. Chris Noakes
9. Chris Smylie
8. Matt O'Connell
7. Alando Soakai
6. Adam Thomson
5. Tom Donnelly (c)
4. Uili Koolofai
3. Jed Vercoe
2. Peter Mirrielees
1. Keith Cameron
Reserves: Jeremy Aldworth, Chris King, Seko Qaraniqio, Paul Grant, Toby Morland/Sean Romans, Callum Bruce, Alipate Fatafehi
