MARK Sorenson has been the ``nearly'' man of Bay of Plenty rugby for long enough.

With Bernie Upton nursing a shoulder injury, Sorenson will assume added duties in the next few weeks, starting with tomorrow's match against Counties-Manukau at Blue Chip Stadium.
``I'm loving the senior role - I'm getting on a bit and it's been a new challenge but I'm learning it and enjoying it,'' Sorenson said.
``Jumping in a different position in the lineout is probably the biggest thing that will change for me. Bernie and I usually share the lineout calls but I'm pretty confident doing that role this week and the guys around me seem pretty confident with that.''
Aside from the bemusing repechage factors, the game will also double as a Chiefs trial, with Counties lock Andrew van der Heijden also nursing Super 14 ambitions.
Chiefs coach Ian Foster has had his lock stocks pillaged, with Upton heading home to Wellington, Sean Hohneck heading offshore and Keith Robinson still under dark  injury clouds.
Sorenson shapes as the next pick, especially given he was in the wider training group last year and  his impressive form  this season.
``It's back there somewhere I suppose, buried pretty deeply. It hasn't really fallen for me in the last few years so I'm certainly not holding my breath again. Making the Chiefs is my primary goal and I'm not hiding that fact but I'm just going out and enjoying playing for the Bay. Hopefully that attitude gets us through the next few weeks as a team and the individual goals will come with that.''
The Katikati-raised lock is highly rated within the team environment, one of the more accurate close-in defenders and his loyalty is without question.
He turned down a lucrative short-term contract with champion English club Wasps to remain with the Chiefs' wider group, despite getting few chances to show his wares.
He admits it was a tempting prospect - he would have been back from England in time to play for the Steamers - but felt a strong urge to give one more solid year in the New Zealand system.
``It's always nice to be wanted and it's good to know what's out there. I learned a bit about the market and what I was worth and it was an attractive club to go to and a good opportunity. But my goals still remained  in New Zealand with the Bay and with the Chiefs and that's where they still lie.''
Foster's lineout options were given an immeasurable boost with Jono Gibbes sticking with Waikato but the next rank of big men are unproven.
Counties' Kristian Ormsby isn't a dedicated lock, while Waikato's Mark Burman can also fit the utility tag. That means a four-way battle between Sorenson, Waikato's Toby Lynn and the Counties pair of van der Heijden and recently loaned, former Wellington lock Ross Kennedy.
Kennedy remains at lock for tomorrow's match, with Ormsby starting again at blindside flanker as Counties-Manukau have named a side close to full strength.
Sekope Kepu comes back into the side at loosehead prop after recovering from injury, with the in-form Simon Lemalu moving back to his preferred tighthead position and Poaloi Taula to the bench.
Waka Setitaia comes back into the starting lineup at No8 following a shoulder injury to Luke Mealamu, who was preferred in the Ranfurly Shield challenge last weekend.

Story with thanks to the Bay of Plenty Times