Orcas face testing time in Auckland

They have already got a win under the belt but the Wellington Orcas' NPC season kicks off properly in Auckland today.

Wellington beat Waicoa Bay Stallions 22-8 in round one, with winger Bureta Faraimo scoring a hat-trick. And coach Trevor Clark was particularly happy with a strong afternoon's work from his forward pack at Fraser Park.

But a road trip to Auckland remains the measuring stick in New Zealand rugby league.

"It will be a very tough game obviously, going up there to play them," Clark said.

"Traditionally we'll always take that underdogs' tag. But I'm also pretty confident and this is probably the best squad we've had for a long time. It has got a lot of depth."

Clark has made just one change for the Cornwall Park clash, with hooker Simon Nash replacing University clubmate Dario Esposito on the bench.

"It's a tactical sort of change because I know they're going to play an up-tempo game around the ruck," Clark said.

"So I've picked two hookers. Hopefully, I can get the most out of those two because Hemi Kemp and Simon Nash are two quality dummy-half hookers."

Clark is confident the likes of hardworking loose-forwards Steve Sutorius and Kieran O'Brien can keep Auckland quiet around the ruck.

"But they're certainly going to test our mettle out wide, that's for sure. I don't know if they will be much bigger than us but they'll play at pace basically, they'll play a quicker tempo."

Top of Clark's "must-stop" list is Auckland centre and former New Zealand Warriors prodigy Shaun Metcalf.

"He's a quality centre so we've got a lot to look out for him, that's for sure."

Auckland had a first-round bye and their side is based heavily on the Mt Albert team that lost the final of the Fox Memorial club competition to Otahuhu last weekend.

"It was disappointing for them last week, so obviously they'll be wanting to rectify that," Clark said.

"We'll be going up there to do a job on them because we've got such a quality side. I just hope the boys can stay on top of the form they're in."

In tomorrow's games, the Northern Swords host Counties Manukau in Kaikohe, and Waicoa Bay are at home to Heartland in Hamilton.

How They Line Up

What: Albert Baskerville Trophy, round two

Where: Cornwall Park, Auckland

When: 1.30pm today

Auckland: Raymon Wallace, Malofou Solomona, Guenther Schaumkel, Shaun Metcalf, Viliami Tauki'uvea, Jared Trott, Trent Wallace, Karl Edmondsen, Aaron Booth, George Taunga, Tane Hart, Suaia Matagi, Saulala Houma. Reserves: Joel Freeman, Joe Vaifale, Manu Mau, Dinnel Mio.

Wellington: Johnny Teleaga, Bernard Gregorius, Matt Wanoa, Abel Lefaoseu, Bureta Faraimo, Mat Everitt, Anton Wereta, Dallas Vincent, Hemi Kemp, George Mafi, Alfred Penese, Dwayne Waterman, Steve Sutorius. Reserves: Mohi Aupouri, Kieran O'Brien, Simon Nash, Shannon Hogan.

- © Fairfax NZ News