Blues v Fijian Drua
Kick-off: 7.05pm Saturday 8 June NZT
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
The Blues are odds-on favourites to roll the Drua in Auckland, mainly because they have not lost at Eden Park and the Fijians have not won away from home at all this season.
Vern Cotter's side is coming in off a strange win over the Chiefs last weekend, where they won comfortably but gave away a crucial bonus point on the last play of the game. It meant they also gave away top spot on the ladder to the Hurricanes.
The Drua have probably hit their KPI for the season, which was to qualify for the play-offs.
This will be their first time ever playing at Eden Park, which would mean it would be the most unlikely of settings for an upset.
Finlay Christie and Blues team celebrate a try by Hoskins Sotutu of the Blues. Photo: Photosport
Here are the team lists:
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes
Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Iosefo Masi, 12 Kemu Valetini, 11 Waqa Nalaga, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Meli Derenalagi (c), 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Leone Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Livai Natave
Bench: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Isoa Nasilasila, 20 Motikiai Murray, 21 Elia Canakaivata, 22 Peni Matawalu, 23 Caleb Muntz
Blues selections
Finlay Christie dives to score a try for the Blues in his side's win over Moana Pasifika at Eden Park. Photo: Photosport
Finlay Christie comes back in at halfback, with Cotter confirming that the impressive Taufa Funaki was suffering from a slight injury complaint.
AJ Lam retains his spot at 12 outside Harry Plummer, with Plummer doing such a good job there he is in the All Black conversation.
Josh Beehre gets a start alongside Patrick Tuipulotu in the second row, as the Blues will need to muscle up against a solid Drua set piece.
Drua selections
Fijian Drua captain Meli Derenalagi. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
If the Drua are to have any chance, it is on the loose forward trio of Etonia Waqa, Kitione Salawa and captain Meli Derenalagi.
Discipline is key - the Drua have not been great at keeping it solid during their away games, so it needs to start with them.
There is more than enough try-scoring ability out back with Salestino Ravutaumada, Waqa Nalaga and Ilaisa Droasese - they just need to get enough ball to make a difference.
What they're saying
"They're going to throw anything and everything, and sometimes, the way they play, you need to adapt. It's around initiative, and if you lose it, if something unpredictable happens, they get the gain from it and gain initiative, it's how quickly we get it back." - Blues coach Vern Cotter.
"It's a great atmosphere there, it's the home of New Zealand rugby ... a great stadium for that and I know the Auckland crowd will be there in numbers and it will be a great experience for our players." - Drua coach Mick Byrne.
The last time they met
Blues 34 - 10 Drua
The first game of the season was held at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei for both of these teams, with the Blues running out comfortable winners in a scratchy performance.
Ironically, the conditions were about as close to Fijian weather as possible, with high temperatures and humidity, but it did not help the visitors at all as they played great for the first five minutes then dramatically dropped off.
Prediction
This will be a Blues win, but it is likely that the Drua will score the try of the match or at least make a serious attempt to do so.
The home side will want to refine their set piece, so it is entirely likely there will be a string of lineout drive opportunities as they look to cash in on the Drua's propensity to give away penalties.
