Blues

Auckland and Blues utility back Isaia Toeava has been added to the growing list of injured All Blacks test rugby candidates.

The Blues go into the final match of their season against fellow Super 14 rugby also-rans the Chiefs in Auckland tomorrow night with a strong sense of what might have been.

First five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick will make his first start for the Blues amid eight changes to the starting 15 for Sunday's (1am NZT) Super 14 rugby match against the winless Lions in Johannesburg.

All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu seems destined to be a spectator as the Blues seek to keep their faint Super 14 rugby playoff hopes alive against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Sunday (NZT).

The Blues' ability to halt the Sharks' impressive mauling is a key area if they want to come up trumps in their must-win rugby Super 14 clash in Durban on Sunday (NZT), coach Pat Lam says.

Coughing up intercept tries has proved a killer for the Blues this season and they'll look to clamp down on their generosity against Super 14 rugby leaders the Bulls in Auckland tomorrow.

Desperate times have arrived early for most of New Zealand's Super 14 rugby hopefuls.

New Zealand's northern-most sides leap the ditch for matches that threaten to make or break their Super 14 rugby season at the competition's halfway mark this weekend.

Skipper Keven Mealamu wants to see the Blues do the business first before he celebrates a personal Super 14 rugby milestone on Friday night.

All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu can't wait to resume one of New Zealand rugby's great domestic rivalries.