North Harbour come to McLean Park as only 2 unions that Hawke's Bay have never beaten (the other being Tasman). In fact the closest the Bay have come is a draw in a non championship fixture in 2001 (28 all ).

But none of this has any relevance on this fixture, as the Bay have shown records, stats, and names mean nothing to them, it is their own performance that counts.

Hawke's Bay have a lot to play for on Friday night. Firstly they will want to make up for an error ridden performance against Tasman, and secondly they will want to show what will hopefully be a big Hawke's Bay crowd that the effort against Tasman is well and truly behind them.

North Harbours strength appears to be in their backline with the likes of Tuitavake, Wulf, Pisi, Pisi, and Waqaseduadua. Now all these players are very talented, but against Counties last week when under pressure they all showed defensive lapses. The Bay will endeavour to apply pressure up front on a big but relatively inexperienced Harbour forward pack. Tom Symes should be better for his run last week, and with Karl Lowe coming back into the loose forward mix this gives the Bay pack a look of extra mobility.

What may be a useful tactic would be for a few high kicks to placed in the direction of the Harbour wings, and pressure applied through a straight defensive line. The Bay backs will need to be defensively strong because given room these Harbour backs are dangerous.

Hopefully a big crowd will raise the Bay to the level of the Wellington game, and the mistakes of last week will be eliminated, with a lot more patience shown in the hit up areas around the ruck and mauls.

This has the potential be a very tight yet free flowing game, and hopefully witnessed be a very loud and vocal McLean Park crowd.

Mighty Hawke's Bay Magpies		vs	North Harbour
1.	Sona Taumalolo		1.	James Afoa
2.	Hika Elliot		2.	James Hinchco
3.	Tom Symes		3.	Ben Afeaki
4.	Matt Egan		4.	Ryan Wilson
5.	Bryn Evans		5.	Greg Rawlinson
6.	Michael Johnson		6.	Anthony Boric
7.	Karl Lowe		7.	Tom Chamberlain
8.	Grant Webb		8.	Nick Williams (C)
9.	Danny Lee (C)		9.	Daniel Deveraux
10.	Matt Berquist		10.	Tusi Pisi
11.	Zac Guildford		11.	Jack McPhee
12.	Sam Giddens		12.	Rudi Wulf
13.	Jason Shoemark		13.	Anthony Tuitavake
14.	Jason Kupa		14.	Villiame Waqaseduadua
15.	Ben Batger		15.	George Pisi
16.	Jamie Muir		16.	Roger Dustow
17.	Arden David-Perrot		17.	Michael Reid
18.	Will Crutchley		18.	Chris Smith
19.	George Naoupu		19.	Villiame Maafu
20.	Chris Eaton		20.	Brett Ingham
21.	Aayden Clarke		21.	Michael Harris
22.	Justin Wilson		22.	Puanani Hunia
Coach	Peter Russell		Coach	Wayne Pivac
	Tom Coventry
Referee	Jonathon White
TJ's	Hawke's Bay RRA Ref
	Hawke's Bay RRA Ref
TMO	Chris Rooney

THE LAY OF THE LAND
Big defence and a commited forward pack will win this match for the Bay. It would be our first every win over the Harbour lads. Since their inception in 1986 - Harbour and Hawkes Bay have only played each other 8 times, 7 wins for Harbour and one draw in 2001.

It's time for us to start redressing that imbalance. 

HAWKE'S BAY
Lowe's return to the role he filled admirably in the last home game, an 8-6 win against Wellington, has seen fellow in-form loosie Michael Johnson return to his more familiar blindside flanker's role.

Former Highlander Grant Webb retains the No. 8 jersey, while fellow former New Zealand Sevens representative George Naoupu takes Lowe's spot on the subs bench.

Russell has continued his rotation of the locks with Matt Egan returning from his rest to take Lua Lokotui's berth in the starting XV. Egan will partner Bryn Evans and, suprisingly, Lokotui has been left out of the 22, with Will Crutchley given the substitute lock's role.

There are no changes to the Magpies backline which started against Tasman. The Magpies backs will have the opportunity to improve on their below-par display against the Makos, particularly their missed-tackle count and option taking.

Russell said world champion New Zealand under-19 team star Israel Dagg wasn't considered for selection because of a viral infection. Dagg, who has yet to start for the Magpies this season because of his broken collar bone received at the April world championships, has been training well and is likely to return to the 22 within the next fortnight.

Naoupu for Lowe is the only change to the subs bench. The Magpies side to play North Harbour at Napier's McLean.

NORTH HARBOUR
Harbour's preparation won't have been helped by the recall of loan hooker Tom McCartney to Auckland after Derren Witcombe's retirement.

Tom McCartney had started every game this season and was beginning to form an effective combination with props James Afoa and Ben Afeaki.

Pivac said bringing him in from Auckland had been worthwhile despite the disruption of losing him mid-season.

Last year's first-choice hooker James Hinchco has been restored to the starting line-up and Roger Dustow has rejoined the squad to provide cover from the bench.

Dustow was initially left out of Pivac's squad owing to concerns about his mobility, but Pivac said the hooker had had several months to work on that aspect of his game.

THE RUN OF THE TAPE

HAWKE’S BAY v North Harbour
Fri 17th August, 7.35 at McLean Park, Napier
Played: 8, 1986-2001
Hawke’s Bay wins: 0
North Harbour wins: 7
Draws: 1
Last match: Hawke's Bay 28 North Harbour 28, 27.06.2001 at Napier
Last Hawke's Bay win: Hawke’s Bay is yet to defeat North Harbour
Last North Harbour win: North Harbour 23 Hawke’s Bay 18, 18.08.96 at Napier
Biggest Hawke’s Bay score: 28 (28–28), 27.06.01 at Napier
Biggest North Harbour score: 48 (48–17), 13.09.92 at Takapuna (NPC)
Biggest differential: North Harbour by 31 (48–17), 13.09.92 at Takapuna (NPC)
Last championship match: North Harbour 37 Hawke’s Bay 27, 11.09.93 at Napier (NPC)

WALKING WOUNDED:
Well Newland is kinda like the walking wounded  - He's gone for the season. A couple of injury worries are Grant Webb, Matt Egan and even Tom Symes could be doubtful. Tasman looks to be fairly well right with injuries with two players coming back from strains and bumps.

FORM:
Hawke's Bay are in red hot form and will be looing to continue this agasint Tasman in their first ever clash, although the Magpies have had some classic clashes in the past against Nelson Bays and Marlborough. Sitting at fourth position on the table is giddy heights for the Bay and a 5 point will cement their standing in the 2007 Air New Zealand Cup. Tasman have won one and lost one, but will fancy their chances against the Magpies with the inclusion of Chris Jack into a settled side.

WHO'S HOT:
Once again for the Magpies you could start at one, work through to 15 and add a few reserves. Perhaps the best of a fine Hawke's Bay side once again were Hika Elliott, the propping revelation of Sona Taumalolo, who put the wood on the Wellington front row, the young second five Sam Giddens who is starting to impress with two solid displays in the number 12 jersey and  veteran flanker Michael Johnson - who continues to provide leadership and action on the field.

Big Chris Jack showed his worth last week in the match against Manawapoo - no doubt he will be a handful again for the Mako's. Tim Taylor is lethal with the boot and will look to kick goals from any position.

WE THINK:
M agpies to power up and score a victory over Tasman, we would really like it to a 5 point win, but the depth in that Canterbury B (Tasman) side is pretty useful and the game will be probably a close affair. So picking the Magpies to win by 12 and under and not to get 4 tries to get the bonus point.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE SAID

Tom Symes - Hawke's Bay Tight Head Prop
"I prefer to hang around in the background ... I don't mind the other frontrowers getting all the media attention at all"
has not yet figured out that Front Rower's are now the Rock Stars of World Rugby.

Peter Russell - Magpie Coach
"Fortunately, we've got no injuries apart from dented pride."
well - it is hard spinning some positive's out of a loss.

Anthony Tuitavake - North Harbour Centre.
"Preparation is the key to success at this level and if I can help out with that then we are on the right track for where we want to go and what we want to achieve."
saying nothing and has spent to long with media minders.

Wayne Pivac - North Harbour Coach.
"We are hearing that there is bad weather coming this Friday but we are hoping that it is going to be reasonable and we can get a bit of ball out wide and take advantage of the opportunities we are creating."
hey - what do you mean it never rains in Napier.

Next week Hawke's Bay play Counties Manukau away up in some industrial dump called Penrose, where a some giant stand is located. It's too far for Magpie Supporters on a Thursday night, luckily Counties are supported by about 13 people, 3 dogs and 5 empty drink cans - so the home ground advantage shouldn't matter.

Mr BMR789's tip
Defence - defence - defence - ball security, use your backs sometimes - might make up for Tasman.