Makos circling Taranaki Bulls
TARANAKI v TASMAN
7.35pm, Thursday, Yarrow Stadium
Referee: Kane McBride
TAB: Taranaki $1.60 Tasman $2.25
TARANAKI: Kurt Baker, Jackson Ormond, Charlie Ngatai (captain), Sean Wainui, Latu Vaeno, Codey Rei, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Toa Halafihi, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Crosswell, Blade Thomson, Riki Hoeata, Angus Ta'avao, Hika Elliot, Mitchell Graham. Reserves, Rhys Marshall, Sione Lea, Ryan Cocker, Leighton Price, Berny Hall, Kylem O'Donnell, Liam McBride, Avon Lewis.
TASMAN: Robbie Malneck, Villiami Lolehea, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili, Kade Poki, Trent Renata, Jimmy Cowan, Liam Squire, Shane Christie (captain), Vernon Fredericks, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Siua Halanukonuka, Quentin MacDonald, Kane Hames. Reserves, Jesse MacDonald, Brock Kaahu, Inoke Latu, Marco Kotze, Tevita Koloamatangi, James Lash, Alex Nankivell, Michael Scott.
Momentum can be a big factor heading into the national provincial championship play-offs.
Taranaki certainly hope so. They're on a six-game winning streak as they prepare to host Tasman at Yarrow Stadium on Thursday night whereas their opposition is staring at a possible four-match losing streak have dropped their last three.
Both teams are assured of a semifinal place, their only mystery being who it will be against and where.
While Canterbury (38 points) has locked up top spot ahead of the last round of matches, Auckland (33), Taranaki (32) and Tasman (31) all harbour hopes of getting that last home play-off, a factor that proved significant a season ago.
Auckland remain in the box seat, needing only to beat Counties Manukau on Saturday to finish second but Taranaki and Tasman will be desperate to get a win in the rematch of last year's NPC premiership final in the hope the Steelers can upset their more fancied rivals in Pukekohe on Saturday.
Understandably, Taranaki captain Charlie Ngatai believed his side was in a good space to chase seven consecutive wins, even though they have lost influential players Seta Tamanivalu and Mitchell Brown to injury.
"There is a little bit of an edge to this game but it's good, the boys are pretty keen to get out there and give it a crack," he said.
So they should be, too.
Over the last month they have built combinations, reduced errors and shown the clarity and desperation they need to beat their closest rivals and those well below them.
Their confidence was also at a season high level although they remained grounded at the thought the hardest part of the competition was still to come.
Ngatai thought they could keep their momentum going if they kept to their structures and defended well.
"As you saw against Canterbury, the boys did that, did all the basics, the simple things and it paid off for us. If we do that again we are in with a chance of a win."
He read little into the fact Tasman had dropped their last three games to Auckland, Counties Manukau and Canterbury.
"Tasman are a classy side and they have good players all over the field. They are going to come out strong and we will be prepared for that."
An area of Taranaki's game that has really impressed lately has been their ability to spread front foot ball accurately from one touchline to the other while waiting for an overlap or a wide defender to come in.
They did it effectively against Manawatu on Saturday, although their defence was sub-standard and undoubtedly Tasman's would show more understanding of what was needed.
Patience, then, would be a key according to Ngatai.
"If we can keep our structure then holes will open up for us. I think we just need to keep building phases to score. It might take three or it might take eight and we just have to wait for that."
Tasman coach Kieran Keane has named what appears their strongest possible team, given injuries to several key players. Prop Tim Perry faces a scan on a damaged injured knee while halfback Billy Guyton, first five Marty Banks and flanker Pete Samu have been ruled out with less serious injuries.
Prop Ross Geldenhuys has been sidelined for a week after being cited against Canterbury for an errant elbow at clean out time.
Keane said although they had had to deal with a number of issues, a citing and various injuries, he was in a positive frame of mind heading to New Plymouth.
"We are going up there with the idea of trying to improve. We have lost our mojo a little bit and we need to get it back quickly.
"There were some gains made last week, we were in the fight for a good part of the Canterbury game. The score blew out a little bit but there were some major improvements from the previous two weeks."
