Elsewhere, the injury list was beginning to shorten, with wing Charles Baxter and No 8 Solomon King back this week for likely places on the bench, and first-choice hooker Aleki Lutui having a fitness test tomorrow. Lutui was celebrating the arrival of his first child in Auckland yesterday, with wife Diana giving birth to a girl, Haineala Ana Lutui. No 8 Colin Bourke was having further scans on his injured ankle today, but was still not expected back for the next few weeks, while Nili Latu's slight calf strain was not expected to keep him out of Saturday night's match at Blue Chip Stadium.

Coach Andre Bell was pleased with the level of cover available, considering teams like Hawke's Bay and Taranaki already had huge injury headaches. ``It's just one of those things, but it does show how much depth we're getting in the province that we're able to cover it,'' Bell said. ``I think we'll be OK.'' Meanwhile, former All Black colossus Lomu could boost the crowd figures by several thousand if Harbour coach Allan Pollock decides he's fit enough to play again.

Despite being signed since early last year, Jonah is yet to play for his new province and has been out of rugby for the last few weeks with an ankle injury picked up in club rugby. Pollock says Lomu is not a certainty to play against the Steamers and while he has completed some speed work and team training, he has not had an ideal build-up as miserable Auckland weather hasn't permitted outdoor training this week.

Lomu has already won praise from All Blacks coach Graham Henry, who is delighted with what the big wing has achieved in his short comeback. Henry could have an added impact on the Harbour-Bay match, when he decides which of his players are available to play provincial rugby this weekend. It's expected he will pick a first-choice 22-strong team for the Bledisloe Cup match with Australia in Auckland next week, with the rest of his squad released. That would rule loosehead prop Tony Woodcock and reserve back Luke McAlister out of Harbour consideration, but allow former Steamers lock Greg Rawlinson some game time.

The All Blacks have fielded their best XV in both Bledisloe Cup wins and that looks set to continue next week, with Henry saying they will probably wait until the South African tour to try other combinations.

With thanks to the Bay of Plenty Times