KEY POINTS:
The last thing Auckland coach Pat Lam is going to do is take Southland lightly.
At least that's what he said at yesterday's team naming. Lam was at pains to point out that Southland had run Auckland close in Invercargill in 2004 and had fought back from 29-3 to come within a point of victory at Eden Park a year later.
Wellington, the last team to take a minnow lightly, had paid the price when they were tipped up by Hawkes Bay just a week after putting 60 points past Otago, Lam also noted.
All good points, those.
But Lam's hard line on not underestimating Air NZ Cup opponents doesn't seem to extend to his selection policy. Gone from the side that thrashed Waikato last Saturday are regular first five-eighths Isa Nacewa, openside flanker Daniel Braid, blindside flanker Jerome Kaino, lock Jay Williams and hooker Lance Po-Ching.
Southland, while not to be underestimated, do not seem to be thought quite worthy of facing a full-strength Auckland side.
"It's about managing [the players] to ensure they can peak every time they play," Lam said of a rotation policy the Stags could only dream of.
"I mentioned to Daniel Braid after the game against Waikato that I didn't think he could have played that well if he had played 80 minutes against Bay of Plenty the week before."
A rotated Auckland team, however, doesn't mean a weak Auckland team.
Lachie Munro, for instance, who takes over from Nacewa in the only change to the backline, scored two tries in a blistering cameo off the bench against Bay of Plenty.
"It's a good opportunity for him," Lam said of the converted fullback. "He has got a lot of natural talent but as he grows in that position he will be able to control the game and direct the team around the field."
If Auckland does have a weakness it could be at hooker, where back-up Lance Po-Ching's celebration of his promotion to number one after the retirement of Derren Witcombe will have been tempered by the fact that he was left out of the 22 entirely.
Regular loosehead Saimone Taumoepeau will instead make his first start at hooker after serving as cover in the role for the Blues while Kevin Mealamu was on reconditioning duty with the All Blacks.
Taumoepeau spent a lengthy period at training yesterday practising his lineout throwing, which remains an unknown quantity.
"We have always had him as cover and this is a chance to put him out at the start," Lam said.
"It's a huge benefit if you've got a front-rower who can play more than one position."
Angus Macdonald also comes back into the fray where he will gain some valuable game time after being squeezed out of a congested loose forward frame last week.
Troy Flavell makes his first Auckland start at lock in place of Williams, while Nick White also gets a first start of the season at loosehead.