Can Auckland cross Tasman?

Almost a month in and we’re down to two unbeaten teams, and a couple of battlers still chasing their first scalps in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Here’s week four talking points:

Can anyone stop Tasman?

Heavyweights Canterbury and North Harbour have had a crack, now it’s unbeaten Auckland’s turn at Eden Park.

The Mako and revitalised Auckland are locked on 14 points at the top of the premiership, making Friday night’s clash the one fixture fans best tune into if they’re after some quality provincial code.

Tasman won’t have All Blacks Shannon Frizell and Tim Perry available this time round, but coach Leon MacDonald will still wheel out a 23 littered with Super players.

As for Auckland, who have played only one premiership team through three weeks, here’s a chance for them to show they’re for real.

Who wins the battle of the brothers?

Chris Gibbes v younger brother Jono Gibbes. Wellington v Waikato. Premiership contenders v championship scrubs.

What better way to kick off the fourth round than with a bit of sibling rivalry?

Judging by the teams’ form guides, and roster quality, this one could get ugly for Jono and the Mooloo men, who have lost 10 straight and might be best served to save a few bodies for Sunday’s Shield challenge against Taranaki.

Chris, who led Waikato to back-to-back NPC finals in 2010 and 2011, and won the Log o’ Wood with them in 2012, might do the same. After all, Sunday’s home match against North Harbour is the Lions’ real test this week.

That said, returning to Hamilton and securing five points will be serious business for Gibbes. Nobody likes losing to a sibling.