The Auckland Storm face their sternest challenge of the season when they travel across town to play Counties Manukau at Massey Park tomorrow (kick off 12pm).

Counties-Manukau currently sit atop the Farah Palmer Cup ladder, while on the same points as the Storm, they boast a superior points difference. While both teams are guaranteed home semifinals, the winner of tomorrow’s match will get home advantage for the final, should they progress.

Coach Dean Bickerton has named a similar team to that which beat Otago 62-0 last week, Hasting Leiataua replaces the injured Mele Hufanga and Naite Faitala-Mariner comes onto the bench. Charlene Gubb also returns to the team and will join the game from the bench.

Bickerton said the team had been a bit disrupted this week with injury and illness but were feeling good after last weekend.

“More than anything the girls are just looking forward to it,” said Bickerton.

“Counties-Manukau are probably favourites. They’ve got threats right across the park so we will have to be on our game.”

Coming off the back of their best performance to date last weekend, Bickerton said there is still room to improve.

“We are getting better each week and it’s good to see we are building at the right end of the competition,” said Bickerton.

While a home semi final is already assured, Bickerton said that doesn’t come into the equation tomorrow.

“We’re not looking beyond tomorrow, it’s just one game at a time.”

The Auckland Storm team is
1. Karina Stowers (Marist)
2. Fiao’o Fa’amausili (Marist)
3. Doris Taufateau (College Rifles)
4. Eloise Blackwell (Ponsonby)
5. Shannon Willoughby (College Rifles)  
6. Charlotte Scanlan (Ponsonby)
7. Lydia Crossman (College Rifles)
8. Charmaine McMenamin (Ponsonby)
9. Emma Jensen (College Rifles)
10. Kiritapu Demant (College Rifles)
11. Hasting Leiataua (Marist)
12. Onjeurlina Leiataua (Marist)
13. Theresa Fitzpatrick (Ponsonby)
14. Teuila Fotu-Moala (Ponsonby)
15. Tyla Nathan-Wong (Marist) 

16. Aldora Itunu (Ponsonby)
17. Aleisha Nelson (Ponsonby) 
18. Charlene Gubb (College Rifles)
19. Nora Baltruweit (College Rifles)
20. Naite Faitala-Mariner (College Rifles)
21. Malia Tova (Marist)
22. Aeron Warbrooke (Ponsonby)