A handful of spicy individual clashes will highlight the Highlanders internal trial at Weston Oval near Oamaru tomorrow.
Coach Glenn Moore named his teams yesterday, leaving out injured captain Craig Newby and two other forwards with minor knocks, Hoani MacDonald and David Hall.
He has opted to spread the talent across the two teams as much as possible in the hope it will encourage competition in key positions two weeks out from the opening Super 14 game against the Reds.
The trial teams have been named the Waitaki Highlanders and the St Kevins Highlanders after the local schools where the players will stay in the respective hostels.
One of the prime match-ups is at openside flanker, where likely starter Alando Soakai faces challenger Tim Boys.
Soakai looks in the best physical shape of his career and is the more dynamic player around the ground, but Boys got the start against the Chiefs last weekend and his class will come through if he is healthy.
There will also be attention on the inside backs, with Jimmy Cowan and Daniel Bowden starting for the St Kevins team and Toby Morland linking with Mike Delany, who made an impressive debut against the Chiefs.
Fetu'u Vainikolo and Lucky Mulipola will mark each other on the wing, while both Paul Williams and James Wilson will be keen to impress at fullback.
A power battle in the front row will see experienced prop Chris King clashing heads with massive Hawkes Bay newcomer Clint Newland.
Southland prop Jamie Mackintosh, who has made a strong recovery from ankle surgery, has been named in the reserves and is likely to get 20min-30min to test his fitness.
Cowan, who captained the Highlanders for the first time last weekend, leads the St Kevins team and hooker Jason Macdonald is the Waitaki captain.
Moore has still declined to confirm who the regular captain will be in Newby's absence but is expected to do so before the final preseason game against the Blues next week.
Six of the Highlanders wider squad members have been included in the trial, as have University A lock Justin Ives, Otago sevens players Randall Kamea, Karne Hesketh and Ben R Smith, Green Island lock-flanker Seko Qaraniqio, University halfback Lewis Hancock and Southland hooker Matt Holloway.
Four North Otago players - loose forwards Joe Mamea and Ross Hay and front-rowers Toetu Hausia and Tobias Sekona - have been included in the trial.
Teams. -
St Kevins Highlanders: Paul Williams, Brett Mather, Ben W Smith, Johnny Leota, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Daniel Bowden, Jimmy Cowan (captain), Steven Setephano, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Tom Donnelly, Jed Vercoe, Peter Mirrielees, Chris King. Reserves: Tobias Sekona, Jamie Mackintosh, Justin Ives, Sean Romans, Blair Stewart, Randall Kamea, one to be added.
Waitaki Highlanders: James Wilson, Lucky Mulipola, Niva Ta'auso, Aaron Bancroft, Karne Hesketh, Mike Delany, Toby Morland, Ezra Taylor, Tim Boys, Seko Qaraniqio, Hayden Triggs, Isaac Ross, Clint Newland, Jason Macdonald (captain), Keith Cameron. Reserves: Matt Holloway, Toetu Hausia, Joe Mamea, Ross Hay, Lewis Hancock, Ben R Smith.
