• Leni Apisai is in-line to make his first start at Hooker in place of Robbie Abel, while Dalton Papalii is named on the bench
• There are three possible debuts to come from the reserves – Michael Lea, Peter-Chanel Tagaloa and Kurt Heatherley

Auckland will look to put in a complete 80-minute performance against Northland come Thursday night as they chase their first win of the campaign. Their opening round draw against North Harbour saw the blue and white hoops relinquish a healthy advantage at the break and settle for a draw in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’.

The side to face Northland sees minimal changes in the starting line-up and on the bench. Up front, Leni Apisai makes his first start at Hooker in place of Robbie Abel who drops-out of the matchday-23, with the forward pack otherwise unchanged.

The backline features no changes apart from Jonathan Ruru who returns at Halfback. Harry Plummer lines-up at first-five with the midfield pairing of TJ Faiane and Tanielu Tele’a teaming up once more. Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam and Salesi Rayasi will be hoping for a dry track to really get the wheels spinning out wide.

The bench carries plenty of punch and fire power when, and if, called upon. Michael Lea will be primed to make his debut alongside fellow Marist clubman, Lock Peter-Chanel Tagaloa who brings considerable size, physicality and form from the club scene to the Mitre 10 Cup arena. Kurt Heatherley, who was unused during last week’s match, is another potential debutante.

Perhaps the main point of interest from the reserves is the naming of Dalton Papalii who is likely to see game time on his return from All Blacks duty. The Pakuranga loose forward was in brilliant form for Auckland throughout 2018 and will look to emulate that once again during the campaign.

Head Coach Alama Ieremia was realistic in his summary of Friday night’s performance against North Harbour, conceding that there were certainly things to work-on, but that the side also played well in prolonged periods during the first half.

“It was job half-done obviously. We were disappointed with how we finished and how we let them back in. There were a few defensive issues to iron-out, but it’s important we retain the faith in that we did alright in the first half, and we look to maintain that momentum for 80-minutes.”

Looking to Thursday, Ieremia knows that Northland will be coming for his side, just like everyone else now in the competition.

“I said earlier last week that they’re coming for us and it (last week) just goes to show that if you’re not tactically aware and don’t problem-solve, opposition(s) will creep up on you.”

Auckland team to play Northland:

1. Alex Hodgman (Suburbs, 1 cap(s)
2. Leni Apisai (Loaned, 1)
3. Marcel Renata (University, 33)
4. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 6)
5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC, 28)
6. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby, 4)
7. Blake Gibson – Co-C (Ponsonby, 26)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (Marist, 11)
9. Jonathan Ruru (University, 12)
10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC, 16)
11. Caleb Clarke (Suburbs, 11)
12. TJ Faiane – Co-C (Pakuranga, 29)
13. Tanielu Tele’a (Marist, 5)
14. AJ Lam (Grammar TEC, 1)
15. Salesi Rayasi (Marist, 12)

16. Michael Lea (Marist, debut)
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs, 6)
18. Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby, 12)
19. Peter-Chanel Tagaloa (Marist, debut)
20. Dalton Papalii (Pakuranga, 13)
21. Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby, 1)
22. D’Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe, 1)
23. Kurt Heatherley (Loaned, debut)

Unavailable due to injury: Scott Scrafton (jaw), Tumua Manu (ankle), Jordan Trainor (thigh), Robbie Abel (hamstring), Lyndon Dunshea (knee)