Makos seeking revenge

The Tasman Makos have not had to wait long for an opportunity to avenge their loss to Canterbury in the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup premiership final.

A quirk of the draw means last year’s finalists will front up against each other in the first round of the 2017 competition.

Given the sides’ recent pedigree, the clash at Nelson’s Trafalgar Park tonight looms as the feature match of the opening week of competition and will offer an early guide to the prospects of two of the competition favourites.

Both sides are laden with 2017 Super Rugby players, 12 in the Makos match-day squad, 13 in the Canterbury starting XV - including seven from the champion Crusaders.

How quickly those players assimilate into the NPC environment after arduous Super Rugby seasons will have a big bearing on the outcome of Friday’s encounter.

Tasman head coach Leon MacDonald, himself coming off the Crusaders campaign, said some lessons had been learned in 2015 when a Highlanders side loaded with Makos won the competition.

‘‘The mental shift to get back up again after such a high, they found that difficult. We are wary of that and made sure that when this team came back together it wasn’t just rugby, rugby and more rugby. There’s been a lot of work done on building a team ... and that’s helped re-set them a bit.’’

After what MacDonald labelled an ‘‘exceptional’’ pre-season cam- paign, involving mostly players outside the Super Rugby group, the squad have come together for an intensive training camp this week.

‘‘Putting such good results on the board with our contracted players away, and with a fairly young group, was outstanding.

‘‘It laid a platform so the standard was pretty high when the Super players returned. They had to fit in rather than try and bring guys up to speed ... we think that was perfect.’’

Despite having limited time with his full squad, MacDonald feels they have made the most of it. ‘‘We have had to tick a lot of things off in short space of time, but four or five days on as a group we feel we are becoming a lot tighter off the field - building that culture that has been so good in the Makos.’’

A team containing a potent mix of experience and youth was named on Thursday for the opener. MacDonald said he and his fellow selectors had limited options, having to include all available contracted players as six squad members were not considered due to injury, illness or unavailability.

The Makos’ tight five all boast Super Rugby experience. Skipper Alex Ainley and Highlanders team mate Siua Halanukonuka will provide a hard edge, while hooker Andrew Makalio, Pete Samu, who takes former skipper Shane Christie’s place in the seven shirt, Ethan Blackadder and No 8 Shannon Frizell are exciting and penetrative ball-carriers.

Blues halfback Billy Guyton gets the nod ahead of exciting Chiefs No 9 Finlay Christie while Mitchell Hunt slots in at first five. Trael Joass and Alex Nankivell, who impressed against Wellington last week will again team up in midfield, with Viliami Lolohea and Tima Faingaanuku on the wings and versatile game-breaker James Lowe chosen at fullback. There is plenty of talent on the bench, with former All Black Kane Hames waiting in the wings.

Out through injury are utility loose forward Vernon Fredericks, fullback Will Jordan and prop Ryan Cozon, while Pari Pari Parkinson and Jordan Taufua are rested. David Havili, a member of the All Blacks squad, has trained with the team but is not cleared to play.

As usual there will be no problem revving the Makos up for another shot at ‘‘big brother’’.

‘‘It’s one of the first games we look for on the season’s schedule,’’ MacDonald said.

‘‘They are the favourites. They earned that by winning last year and through the depth of their squad, so it will be a big challenge and I suppose that’s why we are so excited about it.

‘‘It’s great for us to kick off against them and find out where we are at straight away.’’