Hawkes Bay v Auckland
McLean Park, Napier, 2.35pm today
North Harbour v Canterbury
North Harbour Stadium, 5.35pm today
That whiff in the air down Hawkes Bay way right now is ambition.
Last year, under the clever stewardship of Peter Russell, the Bay made the semifinals of the Air New Zealand Cup, in the process becoming many observers' second favourite team after their own union.
They've put their hand up to be considered for the 15th Super Rugby franchise to be introduced in 2011.
If they want to announce themselves as semifinal contenders again what better way than beating Auckland at McLean Park this afternoon?
Hawkes Bay's lineup has familiar names throughout. They boast a tough front row, tidy operators in the loose forwards and exciting backs in fullback Israel Dagg and wing Zac Guildford.
They produced some exhilarating rugby last season and are unlikely to die wondering this time.
Against them is an Auckland side without a single All Black among them. Given the option, new coach Mark Anscombe might quietly have picked somewhere else to start his regime than in Napier. He acknowledged the size of the task ahead.
"A lot of those guys have had very little Super 14 experience, they're young and they're still finding their feet, even at this level," he said.
Kurtis Haiu will captain Auckland today in his 50th appearance in the absence of season skipper Benson Stanley, who is getting over a hamstring tear. Loose forward Haiu's message to his players is simple.
"I'll just tell the boys we've got to front up. We've got a young side and they've got an experienced side but that doesn't change anything," he said. "We're going down there to get the points and we're just going to really bond together and do our best."
Fullback Paul Williams, gifted first five-eighths Daniel Bowden, who has arrived via Northland and Otago, and halfback Taniela Moa should ensure the backline has some punch.
* The All Blacks selectors are in Durban, but they'll have spies at North Harbour Stadium today to monitor Dan Carter's return to representative rugby for Canterbury.
There is a three-week hiatus for the All Blacks after tomorrow morning and while they won't rush him back, his progress will be keenly scrutinised.
Harbour will start firm underdogs but if the defensive stability new coaches Craig Dowd and Jeff Wilson are seeking comes to fruition, they should at least make life awkward for the defending champions.
* In today's other game, Waikato, under new coach Chris Gibbes, head to Invercargill and a difficult opening assignment. Recent history is in their favour, although that won't mean much.
Waikato will have solid semifinal ambitions, so too Southland, who did just that last year.
Manawatu host Counties Manukau tomorrow in a contest which has basement battle writ large across it. Both are staring at relegation at the end of the year as the championships trims from 14 to 10 teams. This is the sort of game for which the term Must Win was invented.
HAWKES BAY v AUCKLAND:
Hawkes Bay
Israel Dagg
Jason Kupa
J. Shoemark (c)
Sam Giddens
Zac Guildford
Matt Berquist
Chris Eaton
Thomas Waldrom
Karl Lowe
Michael Johnson
Ross Kennedy
Matt Egan
Clint Newland
Hika Elliott
Sona Taumalolo
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Josh Keys, Adam Bradey, George Naoupu, Dane Shelford, Andrew Horrell, Richard Buckman.
Auckland
Paul Williams
Dave Thomas
Winston Stanley
Jamie Helleur
Atieli Pakalani
Daniel Bowden
Taniela Moa
Peter Saili
Onosai'i Auva'a
Kurtis Haiu (c)
Jay Williams
A. Van der Heijden
Tevita Mailau
Tom McCartney
Pauliasi Manu
Reserves: Francis Smith, Charlie Faumuina, Hamish Paterson, Dean Budd, Grayson Hart, Ash Moeke, Teddy Stanaway.
NORTH HARBOUR v CANTERBURY:
North Harbour
Jack McPhee
A.Tuitavake (c)
George Pisi
Andrew Mailei
Ken Pisi
Mike Harris
Chris Smylie
Vili Ma'afu
Malakai Ravulo
Chris Smith
Filo Paulo
James King
Ben Afeaki
James Parson
James Afoa
Reserves: Mike Mayhew, Mike Reid, Richard Mayhew, Robbie Colhoun, Matt France, Ben Botica, Nafi Tuitavake
Canterbury
Colin Slade
James Paterson
Tim Bateman
Ryan Crotty
Sean Maitland
Dan Carter
Tyson Keats
Nasi Manu
G. Whitelock (c)
Michael Paterson
James Broadhurst
Sam Whitelock
Peter Borlase
Ti'i Paulo
Wyatt Crockett
Reserves: Will Catherwood, Andrew Olorenshaw, Luke Romano, Matt Todd, Willi Heinz, Stephen Brett, Adam Whitelock.
