Long and frustrating road to end for Atiga

Ben Atiga in training yesterday after failing late fitness tests in early matches and then coming off the bench. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Ben Atiga will probably accept his Blues selection when he takes to Eden Park on Saturday - but not until then.

The centre was named for several early matches in the Super 12, then failed to survive late fitness tests on a damaged hamstring.

Atiga has been used from the bench late in the Blues' last two victories and yesterday was chosen to start this weekend's match against the bottom-placed Sharks.

It has been a frustrating wait for the 21-year-old and one that stymied the selectors' original plans.

Atiga's restoration means Mils Muliaina can return to his test fullback place after several shifts at centre.

Replacement lock Chresten Davis also gets a run this weekend after having further time to digest the Blues' calls and routines. His selection will assist Bradley Mika and the lineout, although the Sharks were poor in that and most areas of their game last week.

They will have their national captain, John Smit, back for this game, but are likely to be without three of their frontline backs to injury. Halfback Ruan Pienaar suffered head and neck injuries against the Chiefs, Butch James damaged a leg and Henno Mentz strained a hamstring.

James is the side's playmaker and a key to any hopes of an upset, but he is on the doubtful list with Sandile Nxumalo and Conrad Barnard, the probable new halves pairing.

The Sharks trained yesterday on Waiheke Island and will need to improve markedly from their 40-5 defeat against the Chiefs to trouble the Blues.

"We learned that at Super 12 level you cannot afford to play without primary possession," coach Dick Muir said of that loss.

Statistics showed the Sharks lost a lot of possession in the set phases, he said, and Smit's return would strengthen the lineouts and scrums.

* Blues vs Sharks
Eden Park, 7.35pm Saturday

Blues

Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Ben Atiga, Luke McAlister, Joe Rokocoko, Tasesa Lavea, Steve Devine, Xavier Rush (c), Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Bradley Mika, Chresten Davis, John Afoa, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Derren Witcombe or Roger Dustow, Saimnone Taumoepeau, Nick Williams, Justin Collins, Ben Meyer, Carlos Spencer, Isa Nacewa.