Captain, Mannering

Should Waikato bother turning up for a shot at the Shield?

Nobody could blame Waikato fans if they’d rather reach for the schedule to check when they play Southland than watch Sunday’s Shield challenge in New Plymouth. However, they should hold the phone. Sure, Taranaki are hot favourites to extend their sixth tenure to five successful defences, but they’re not all what they’re cracked up to be, which was evident by their last-gasp loss to Northland the past weekend. Both the amberand-blacks’ losses were against championship sides, leaving them with a 2-2 record and in fifth place in the premiership.

As for when Waikato play fellow battlers Southland – lock in September 29.

How about Wellington v North Harbour?

This juicy morsel will be Wellington’s second match in five days, but an opportunity to plonk themselves at the pointy end of the premiership ladder.

As for Harbour, who didn’t impress their head coach (Tom Coventry) with their defence during last week’s 32-20 loss to Tasman, it doesn’t get much easier with a trip to the capital.

Last week’s result dropped them from second to sixth. Falling to the potent Lions, who have scored a league-high 106 points, could see them fall into the relegation spot.

Reigning champions Canterbury await them next week.

Are the bookies being harsh on Southland?

Let’s give the Stags some credit – they’re not as hopeless as the odds for their home match against Counties suggest.

Anyone keen to make a few bucks would be silly not to have a stab on them tipping up Counties in Invercargill, given they’re paying a whopping $8.

You’d think they were playing Tasman or Canterbury, but no, that’s Counties, who needed a last-ditch penalty to avoid an 0-4 start, as $1.06 favourites.

Tip: Don’t be surprised if Southland end their 13-match losing streak this week. Team captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and veteran forward Simon Mannering both sat out Warriors training yesterday, but coach Stephen Kearney is confident they’ll both play at the weekend.

The Warriors have their biggest game in seven years on Saturday when they take on the Panthers at ANZ Stadium in the NRL elimination final.

Blake Green and James Gavet, who both missed Friday’s 20-16 win over the Raiders with injuries will be back, but there were concerns as TuivasaSheck injured an ankle and Mannering got a whack to his sternum.

It’s not ideal that they both had to miss one of the team’s two big training sessions this week, but Kearney says they want to be cautious so they can play on Saturday.

‘‘They didn’t train today and we’ll try to get them out tomorrow,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘But we’re pretty confident that