Tough trip down south for Waikato

Southland v Waikato

A number of injuries and Southland's good home record could count against Waikato in their clash in Invercargill today.

Waikato need the win and need Canterbury to beat Wellington to go top of the table. But injuries have hit the Mooloo men hard.

The backline features the biggest upheaval, with fullback Todd Miller (hamstring) and wing Matt Priscott (wrist) out.

Coach Ian Foster will cope by slotting back-up five-eighths Derek Maisey in at second-five and moving midfielders Keith Lowen and Regan King out one place.

That means King goes on to the wing, Loki Crichton, who has recovered sufficiently from his calf injury, goes to fullback from wing, and Sosene Anesi comes in on the other wing, with Fijian flyer Filimoni Bolavucu on the reserve bench.

First-five David Hill will do the goalkicking.

The only non-injury changes are at halfback, where Isaac Boss replaces Rhys Duggan, and in the front row, where Scott Linklater takes over from Greg Smith, who is on World Cup duty with Fiji, and David Briggs replaces Michael Collins at loosehead prop.

Other newcomers to the bench are hooker John Pareanga and utility back David Johnston.

"I'm pretty comfortable with the selection. It looks sharp," Foster said.

He is confident that Maisey, who played the club season for Hamilton Marist at second-five, can do the job for the provincial side.

"We're expecting some cold and wet weather down there so we felt it was important to get a few more kicking options, and Derek certainly gives me that."

For Southland, the season has been relatively successful, with three victories and three defeats.

At home, they have beaten North Harbour and Canterbury, and lost narrowly to neighbours Otago.

Southland: Graydon Staniforth, Mana Harrison, James Jowsey, Seremaia Bai, Hayden Martine, Richard Apanui, Jimmy Cowan; Paul Miller, Ben Herring, Hale T-Pole, Steve Jackson (capt)/Hoani Macdonald, Daniel Quate, Clarke Dermody, Jason Rutledge, Keith Cameron. Res: David Hall, Brett Roberts, Macdonald/Roger Newell, Pita Wilson; Jason Harrison, James Wilson, Bryan Milne.

Waikato: Loki Crichton, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Sosene Anesi, Derek Maisey, David Hill, Isaac Boss, Steven Bates, Scott Couch, Chresten Davis, Dave Duley, Jono Gibbes (capt), Deacon Manu, Scott Linklater, David Briggs. Res: John Pareanga, Michael Collins, Sean Hohneck, Wayne McEntee, Rhys Duggan, David Johnston, Filimoni Bolavucu.

Ref: Bryce Lawrence. Kickoff: 5.35pm.

NPC points table