KEY POINTS:
Hamilton, 5.30pm today
If all goes according to plan, Waikato will be looking to execute a quick post-match turnaround after dispatching Southland at Waikato Stadium.
The Waikato players have an early date booked with a large screen TV and a quiet beer. The object of their attention will be the North Harbour v Taranaki Ranfurly Shield match that kicks off at 7.35pm.
If Harbour repel the challengers, Waikato are next in line for a shot at the Log 'O' Wood.
"We'll probably have a sneaky look at it down at the sponsor's bar, we'll be watching it with a bit of interest," confirmed Waikato halfback Brendon Leonard.
Leonard, though, won't be in the Waikato ranks for that challenge. His final hitout of the season for the Mooloo men before departing for France with the All Blacks will be against Auckland at Eden Park next week.
The majority of the All Blacks squad are being kept in cotton wool, but Leonard will start today for Waikato despite suffering a minor injury to a ligament in his wrist in last Thursday's competition opener against Manawatu.
But he was happy to be playing despite the prospect of a further injury wrecking his World Cup dream.
"I try not to think about it. If you go into things half-hearted then you are more likely to get injured. It could happen in any game, any time, it could happen crossing the street so you've just got to go on with things as normal."
Leonard admitted his short-term presence in the Waikato side made for an awkward situation. His understudy, David Bason, is back on the bench after playing club rugby last week.
"It is a bit hard for everyone involved, especially the halfbacks behind me who want to get in there and play. It's a little bit off-putting for a few people but I guess it is just what happens. I am pretty happy to be here, playing rugby."
Southland have never won a championship match in Hamilton and, given the 41-13 pasting they got from Hawkes Bay in Invercargill last week, it's hard to see them breaking that duck today.
