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Blues 14
Stormers 8
Senior test lock Ali Williams may resume his Blues career this weekend in a homecoming boost to their Super 14 chances against the frontrunning Sharks.
Williams signed on again for the Blues after a season with the Crusaders, but his involvement was halted by a back injury which eliminated him from the opening three games in Australia and South Africa.
However Williams and his locking younger brother Jay played for the Auckland Academy last week and indicated they would both be primed for Blues training as the squad prepared for their first game at Eden Park on Saturday.
The Blues favoured All Black Anthony Boric and Kurtis Haiu as their locking combination on tour.
Coach Pat Lam and his medical staff will be economical this week with their training demands after the return late tonight from South Africa. Fresh players and certainly someone of Ali Williams' calibre would boost the selection options.
Williams accumulated 52 games for the Blues before his unhappiness with then-coach David Nucifora took him to the Crusaders last season. He came "home" this year but damaged his back lifting weights just before the squad left for the start of the series.
The verdict on his return was hazy, with Lam suggesting it could be six days or six weeks. If he survives this week, the Blues should be happy to reclaim one very fresh player.
Their next opponents, the Sharks, just held on to win their third straight game against the Chiefs. Their coach, John Plumtree, outlined the fatigue factor from their travel.
"We had a huge game last Saturday in Durban, and physically it took a lot out of us because of the heat. Then, with the travel factor, we had to keep it pretty light this week.
"We looked a bit flat out there, and it certainly told in some of our play, but it was certainly a very gutsy performance."
Meanwhile Blues wing Rudi Wulf is still several weeks away from testing his broken arm again while reports are more dire about midfielder Benson Stanley.
He returned to Auckland after being assisted from the field against the Force and will not play again during the competition after an operation to repair his ruptured hamstring.
The Sharks, who have started their bruising four-game roadtrip, were joined by the Bulls and Waratahs as the unbeaten sides after round three, while the Highlanders are the only winless New Zealand side.
The video referee sided with the Sharks three times when he disallowed Chiefs tries, while local lock Kevin O'Neill added to the frustration with his Hall of Fame blooper when he shelled a crosskick with no one near him.
Tasesa Lavea seemed to be the sole casualty after the Blues' victory in Cape Town. The five-eighths strained a hamstring, and his place this weekend will create a selection duel between Jimmy Gopperth and the rising utility value from Michael Hobbs.
Coach Lam said there was no point bemoaning the schedule which had them returning from South Africa and the Sharks travelling from Hamilton.
"They have an extra day on us, that's just the way it is, and we have to look after ourselves with our travel, medical business and jetlag."
The priority was for the players to rest and recover while the coaching staff worked on the strategies for Saturday at Eden Park.
The Blues would probably settle for one training session before the game.
