• New look front row for Auckland with Sam Prattley and Marcel Renata to make their first starts
• Unchanged starting back row and backline

Auckland face Northland this Sunday at Toll Stadium in what looms as a fascinating second round match-up. Both sides will have taken a number of positives from their opening encounters against North Harbour and Counties Manukau respectively.

Northland will feel they did enough to win against their neighbor but fell short when it really mattered. Auckland on the other hand, showed plenty of grit and determination to hold-out Counties Manukau in an arm wrestle at Eden Park.

Head Coach Alama Ieremia has named a largely unchanged line-up with the only alterations coming in the front row and at lock. Sam Prattley and Marcel Renata will make their first starts of the season, while Robbie Abel comes in to the side to start at hooker and earn his first cap.

Fa’atiga Lemalu replaces Jamie Lane at lock and will look to add plenty of steel with a physical battle highly likely come Sunday afternoon. The tight five will be ably supported by the same impressive back row who shone in last week’s victory.

Harry Plummer once again gets the opportunity to run the cutter and unleash the likes of Salesi Rayasi and Melani Nanai out wide. Rayasi and Nanai both managed to get across the line in spectacular fashion last time out and will look to continue in the same vein in the far North.

While the 23-19 victory over Counties Manukau was a positive way to start off the campaign, Head Coach Alama Ieremia still feels there’s a lot to be desired in terms of final product.

“I was pleased with the effort, I was pleased with the result, but I wasn’t pleased with the execution and decision making at times, but I am proud of their effort and they fought till the end.”

Ieremia highlighted set-piece time as a key focus for the week in the build-up to Sunday’s game to ensure they have the platform to launch from.

“We’ve got to look after our backyard first and foremost. Our work around the set-piece is critical this week. Northland are a good side, they’re well coached and we need to tidy up those areas that were inconsistent for us.”

Auckland line-up to play Northland: (* = new cap)

1. Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
2. Robbie Abel* (College Rifles)
3. Marcel Renata (University)
4. Fa’atiga Lemalu* (Papatoetoe)
5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
6. Dalton Papali’I (Pakuranga)
7. Blake Gibson - Captain (Ponsonby)
8. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
9. Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
12. TJ Faiane (Pakuranga)
13. Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14. Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
15. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

16. Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
17. Jarred Adams (Suburbs)
18. Taniela Koroi (Marist)
19. Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
20. Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
21. Jonathan Ruru (University)
22. Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)
23. Jacob Umaga (Eden)

Unavailable due to injury: Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder), Michael Fatialofa (knee), Lyndon Dunshea (shoulder), Tanielu Tele’a (shoulder), Caleb Clarke (hip), Taleni Seu (back - season)