Pride face litmus test against Counties-Manukau

The Wellington Pride's litmus test has arrived and head coach James Porter has responded by making three changes to his starting team for Friday's match against Farah Palmer Cup leaders Counties-Manukau in Pukekohe.

Wing Mary-Ann Collins, openside Caroline Sio and hooker Alicia Print have all been elevated to the starting side after providing impact off the bench in last week's 40-20 win over Otago.

The Pride head to Pukekohe on the back of three consecutive wins, but under no illusions about the challenge they'll face at ECOLight Stadium.

"In our minds Counties are the front runners in the competition without a doubt," Porter said. "They're unbeaten and on form we think they are very capable of knocking over [the other unbeaten team] Auckland next week. They are strong up front and have a lot of fire power out wide where Renee Wickliffe is a real speedster, so this game will be a big test for us."

A win would effectively book the Pride a spot in the semifinals with their final regular season match at home to winless Bay of Plenty next Saturday.

Regardless of the result, Porter is looking for a performance that will give his side a gauge of where they are at as the playoffs pop onto the radar.

"We targeted this match as the big one for us of the round robin and what we've found this season is the whole competition is a lot tighter than it was last year.

"Every team has lifted their game and you are seeing that in the results. A year ago Auckland were winning their matches by 30 and 40 points every week and now they are winning by seven or eight, so it's very clear the gap has closed.

"Regardless of who makes the semifinals they will be four very tough teams."

All of the above makes Friday's match against a Counties-Manukau team which has scored 174 points and conceded only 25, a valuable exercise for the Pride.

Porter said Collins would add some firepower and physicality out wide and potentially counter the threat of her opposite Wickliffe, while Print and Sio had both earned their starts.

"Mary-Ann is tough and without giving too much away hopefully she can run over a few people out wide, Alicia comes back in at hooker for Alice Soper and Carol as our senior No 7 gets the start ahead of Gina Williamson.

"With Alice and Gina and also Vaine Marsters, who covers a number of positions very well, on the bench it gives us some real balance in our reserves and in this match we will need some real impact in that area."

The Wellington Pride team to play Counties-Manukau at ECOLight Stadium in Pukekohe on Friday, September 9 (kick-off 5:05pm):

15 Georgia Daals (OBU)

14 Ayesha Lei-liga (Ories) switches to the right wing

13 Bernadette Robertson (Ories)

12 Fa'asua Makisi (Ories)

11 Mary-Ann Collins (Wainui) 

10 Elizabeth Goulden (Ories)

9 Acacia Te Iwimate (Wainui)

8 Jackie Patea (Wainui) (c)

7 Caroline Sio (Avalon) 

6 Saimoana Solia (OBU)

5 Joanah Ngan-Woo (Ories)

4 Sanita Levave (Norths)

3 Tauaneai Brooke (Wainui)

2 Alicia Print (Ories) 

1 Muteremoana Aiatu (Norths) 

Reserves:

16 Janet Taumoli (Ories)

17 Alice Soper (Wainui)   

18 Atalina Milovale (HOBM) 

19 Gina Williamson (OBU)

20 Vaine Marsters (Norths)  

21 Monica Tagoai (HOBM)  

22 Davina Lasini (Wainui)