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.

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.