• Akira Ioane returns for Auckland for the first time in 2019
• Last time the two sides met Auckland ran-out victors at Eden Park
• Both sides sit on two wins apiece so far in 2019 with Auckland sitting in second and Waikato third

Auckland’s fourth round Mitre 10 Cup match will take place in Hamilton against Waikato this weekend with both sides looking to build-on gritty, close wins last time out.

Auckland relied on first-half efforts against Bay of Plenty on Saturday at Eden Park to get the job done. Waikato on the other hand were involved in a high-scoring and tense affair against fellow Chiefs partners Counties Manukau which was eventually won by the Mooloo men, 31-26.

Auckland head into Saturday’s clash without All Blacks Rieko Ioane and Dalton Papalii. Ioane was included in the All Black’s Rugby World Cup squad on Wednesday while Papalii succumbed to a high-ankle sprain late-on against the Steamers.

Despite these absences, Auckland are still able to name a strong side on paper with 11 Super Rugby contracted players included in the starting-XV alone.

Hoskins Sotutu has been in impressive form at No.8 through the opening rounds but will likely make way at some point on Saturday for the re-introduction of Akira Ioane from the bench.

In the backs, Tanielu Tele’a retains his spot at centre alongside co-captain TJ Faiane at second-five. AJ Lam returns to the run-on side on the right-wing – the Grammar TEC flyer will be looking to take his chance and replicate the promise he showed in the first two outings against North Harbour and Northland.

With Auckland currently in second on the table, the opening three rounds can be given a pass mark, but Head Coach Alama Ieremia is aware of the improvements his side need to make moving forward.

“I probably wasn’t happy with the way we finished, and we were quite careless at stages around our attack. I thought our defence was outstanding to only hold them to one try. However, we have standards in the team, and we let ourselves down around our exits and with the careless passing in our zone, which is not what we’re about.”

Looking at Waikato, Ieremia wasn’t shying away from the fact that the home side would be looking to take the scalp of his own team in Hamilton come Saturday night.

“Everyone wants to knock us over, so they’ll be attacking and throwing everything at us, including the kitchen sink, so it’s very important we stay disciplined in the rights areas.”

Auckland team to play Waikato:

1. Alex Hodgman (Suburbs, 3 caps)
2. Robbie Abel (College Rifles, 12)
3. Marcel Renata (University, 35)
4. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby, 8)
5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC, 30)
6. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Ponsonby, 6)
7. Blake Gibson – Co-C (Ponsonby, 27)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (Marist, 13)
9. Jonathan Ruru (University, 14)
10. D’Angelo Leuila (Papatoetoe, 3)
11. Caleb Clarke (Suburbs, 13)
12. TJ Faiane – Co-C (Pakuranga, 31)
13. Taniela Tele’a (Marist, 7)
14. AJ Lam (Grammar TEC, 2)
15. Salesi Rayasi (Marist, 14)
16. Leni Apisai (Loaned, 3)
17. Jarred Adams (Suburbs, 10)
18. Taniela Koroi (Marist, 3)
19. Peter-Chanel Tagaloa (Marist, 1)
20. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby, 39)
21. Danny Tusitala (Ponsonby, 3)
22. Daniel Kirkpatrick (University, 4)
23. Kurt Heatherley (Loaned, 2)

Unavailable due to injury: Harry Plummer (quadricep), Cam Suafoa (arm), Tumua Manu (hamstring), Scott Scrafton (jaw), Jordan Trainor (quadricep), Dalton Papalii (ankle), Lyndon Dunshea (knee)