KEY POINTS:
It didn't take Brad Mika long to make an impression off the bench against Counties-Manukau last week.
The jovial giant had been on the field only a few minutes when he sauntered through the tiring Steelers defence - the ball resembling an oversized peanut as he waved it around - before sending Doug Howlett on an unopposed run to the line.
It was a burst that ensured the Counties coffin lid would stay firmly shut, and which propelled Mika into the starting line-up against Bay of Plenty tonight.
He will be expected to supply the punch as Auckland attempt to meet the Steamers' forward-oriented approach head-on.
"They are pretty much honeypot with their forwards," said Mika of the Bay tactics.
"They have a real strong team and they use their forwards well. We were a bit stand-offish against Counties and they made a lot of ground. If we play the way we did last week then we'll see a few surprises from the Bay."
Converting the three-test All Black from a lock to a bullocking loose forward has been a special project of Auckland coach Pat Lam.
"Brad is a talented guy," Lam said. "He adds a lot on and off the field and he's got great vision and skills."
But at 1.98m and 122kg, he's a touch short and a good few kilos too heavy to be truly effective at lock.
"Body-wise nowadays I'm not suited for lock," he concedes.
The Auckland lineout lifters would doubtless agree.
Lam first moved him to No 8 in 2004 but he admits the transition is still a "work in progress". Last year, with Andrew Blowers and Justin Collins able to cover No 8, Mika was used primarily as a lock.
But he prefers to play at No 8 and his growing effectiveness there was evident against Counties.
In his last season with Auckland before heading to France to begin a three-year contract with Brive in November, the 68-cap veteran is aiming to go out on a high.
Although he had to guard against complacency, not having the pressure of playing for his next contract was a positive, he said.
"Every year you come to NPC you are always thinking: 'I've got to perform to get that Super 14 contract. But knowing I am going to France at the end of the year, I can just concentrate solely on my game and not worry about other pressures."
Certainly it would be unfair to accuse Mika of already having one foot in France. He was supposed to begin French lessons last week but skipped both classes.
For now, at least, it seems his focus is well and truly on finishing off his Auckland career strongly.
"I probably won't come back here so I want to do everything right, do whatever I can to contribute to the team and not slacken off knowing I am going away."
A nagging hamstring injury restricted his club season and he has come into the national championship short of match fitness. Last weekend's cameo against Counties won't have done him any harm, though, which could be bad news for the Steamers.
Bradley Mika
Position: Lock/No 8
Height: 1.98m
Weight: 122kg
Age: 26
Auckland debut: 2000 v Otago
Caps: 68
Points: 82 (16 tries, 1 conversion)
Super 14 caps: 41
Tries: 4
Test caps: 3
