Preview: ITM Cup, Saturday

The Ranfurly Shield will be up for grabs when Southland host North Harbour in Saturday's ITM Cup crossover clash at Rugby Park.

The Ranfurly Shield will be up for grabs when Southland host North Harbour in Saturday's ITM Cup crossover clash at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

It's the Stags' second defence of the prized trophy after winning it off Canterbury in Round Two. Counties-Manukau were the last team to challenge for the famous Log o'Wood, but failed to wrest it off the southerners.

Saturday's match sees two teams last in their respective divisions go head to head – Southland currently prop up the Premiership table and face relegation, whilst Championship side North Harbour have no chance of promotion next year after winning just one of their six matches so far.

However, if the struggling Harbour are to achieve anything in 2011 – a Ranfurly Shield win could be it.

Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Kade Poki,13 Kendrick Lynn,12 Matt Saunders, 11 Tim Cornforth,10 James Wilson,9 Scott Cowan,8 Elliot Dixon/Tom Chamberlain,7 Tim Boys,6 John Hardie,5 Ben Nally,4 Josh Bekhuis,3 Nick Barrett,2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c),
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Chris King, 18 Michael Fatialofa, 19 Chamberlain/Dixon, 20 Sonny Rangitohereri, 21 Marty McKenzie, 22 Glen Horton, 23 Michael Peterson.

North Harbour: 15 Willie Walker, 14 Nafi Tuitavake,13 Rudi Wulf,12 Brendon Watt,11 David Raikuna, 10 Ben Botica, 9 Chris Smylie (c), 8 Mat Luamanu,7 Solomon King,6 Brent Wilson,5 Filo Paulo,4 Irwin Finau,3 Ben Afeaki,2 James Parsons, 1 James Afoa.
Replacments: 16 Michael Mayhew, 17 Alex Woonton, 18 Michael Farmer, 19 Sam Hayes-Stevenson, 20 Brenton Helleur, 21 Pita Ahki, 22 Ken Pisi, 23 Taione Vea.

Referee: Chris Pollock

Bay Of Plenty v Hawkes Bay

After two consecutive defeats in the ITM Cup, Bay of Plenty will be looking to bounce back against Hawke's Bay in Saturday's Battle of the Bays.

The Steamers face traditional rivals the Magpies at Rotorua International Stadium in a crucial encounter that sees two of the top teams in their respective divisions go head to head.

Former tournament leaders Bay of Plenty have only recently been overtaken by Taranaki and now sit in second place. However, a win on Saturday will put them back at the top of the Premiership pile.

Hawke's Bay are just one point off Championship leaders Manawatu, and know a victory over the Steamers with just three round left to play will boost their chances ten-fold of gaining promotion into the Premiership next year.

Bay of Plenty: 15 Toby Arnold, 14 Lelia Masaga,13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Daniel Waenga, 9 Jamie Nutbrown,8 Colin Bourke (c), 7 Luke Braid, 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Culum Retallick/Leon Power, 4 Luke Andrews,3 Josh Hohneck,2. John Pareanga, 1 Tristan Moran.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Perrin, 17 Pingi Tala'apitanga/Greg Pleasants-Tate, 18 Power/Leighton Price, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Josh Hall, 21 Chris Noakes, 22 Lance MacDonald, 23 Bronson Murray.

Hawke's Bay: 15 Mark Jackman, 14 Gillies Kaka, 13 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 12 Andrew Horrell, 11 Richard Buckman, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Mike Coman (c), 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Trent Boswell-Wakefield,5 Bryn Evans, 4 Kane Thompson, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Hikawera Elliot, 1 Hikairo Forbes.
Replacements: 16 Logovi'i Mulipola, 17 Kas Lealamanua, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Adam Bradey, 20 Isaac Paewai, 21 Tua Saseve, 22 Israel Dagg, 23 Ben Tameifuna.

Referee: Nick Briant

Wellington vs Manawatu

Manawatu will be searching for their second Premiership team scalp in succession when they tackle Wellington in the New Zealand capital on Saturday.

After beating neighbours Hawke's Bay and most recently Taranaki, Manawatu will be playing to beat all three of their Hurricanes franchise partners in a single season.

The Turbos are leading the Championship points table, with a one-point lead over second-placed Hawke's Bay and a five-point buffer to third-placed Otago, so a win for them over Wellington would put them in a strong position heading into the business end of the season.

With a seven-day turnaround since their last match, Manawatu will also be fresh and focused to upset the Lions in their own den.

In an increasingly congested Premiership points table, the sixth-placed Lions are still very much in the hunt to make the final on September 3. However, with just three matches left to play after this round – Wellington will need to win all their remaining games from here on in.

A bonus-point win for the Lions this weekend could propel them to as high as third equal with Auckland and ahead of Waikato and Canterbury if these two teams lose their crossover matches against Otago and Northland respectively.

Indeed, both teams have much to play for at Westpac Stadium.

Wellington: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Alipate Leiua, 13 Michael Lealava'a, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Faifili Levave, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Jeremy Thrush (c),3 Neemia Tialata,2 Dane Coles, 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Joe Latta, 19 Dean Brunsdon, 20 Frae Wilson, 21 Michael Hobbs/Hayden Cripps, 22 Steve Honey, 23 Whetu Henry.

Manawatu: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Casey Stone, 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma,
12 Johnny Leota, 11 Junior Tomasi Cama, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Hamish Gosling, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Nick Crosswell (c), 5 Michael Fitzgerald, 4 Reece Robinson, 3 Ma'afu Fia,2 Rob Foreman, 1 Grant Polson.
Replacements: 16 Bryn Templeman, 17 Jared Brock, 18. Fraser Stone, 19 James Oliver, 20 Isaac Thompson, 21 Lewis Marshall/Frank Bryant, 22 Nehe Milne-Skudder/Karl Bryson, 23 David Te Moana.

Referee: Shaun Elliott