• Blake Gibson to Captain Auckland for the first time
• Ten potential debutants set to make their mark

Auckland’s season will finally kick into gear in earnest on Saturday when they host Counties Manukau at Eden Park.

It is somewhat of a new era for the blue and white hoops with Alama Ieremia leading his charges into their first foray of 2018. The side feature a mix of experience and youth with a number set to make their debuts on the hallowed turf.

There will be debuts for Prop Jarred Adams and Hooker Mike Sosene, while Salesi Rayasi fresh off an impressive World Sevens Series campaign will make his first appearance on the left wing for the blue and white hoops.

The bench also offers the opportunity for the likes of Leif Schwencke, Taniela Koroi, Evan Olmstead, Hoskins Sotutu, Jonathan Ruru, Daniel Kirkpatrick and Jacob Umaga to earn their first cap and provide a timely impact off the pine when called upon.

The experienced pivot pairing of Ruru and Kirkpatrick offers another dimension that Ieremia can call upon after choosing to start with the promising Leon Fukofuka and Harry Plummer at halfback and first five-eighth respectively.

Blake Gibson assumes the mantle of Captain for the first game with fellow Co-Captain Patrick Tuipulotu unavailable. Gibson has been on the fringe of the All Blacks for a couple of years now and will see the Mitre 10 Cup as the ideal window to once again show his wares.

In terms of preparation, Ieremia is confident they are in a position to start well on Saturday.

“We’ve got a squad we feel confident that can get the job done and we’ve had a good warm-up with two pre-season games to date. Some players have been rewarded for their performances in those, so we’re pretty excited about the challenge to come from Counties.”

There are nine players set to make their debuts for Auckland on Saturday and Ieremia said across the chosen squad there were a number to put their hand-up over the course of the club season.

“From a squad point of view, we’ve had several high-quality performers put their hand-up, especially around the club finals. I’m excited to see how these key players in club rugby go in the Mitre 10 Cup environment.”

Click here for the programme

Auckland line-up to face Counties Manukau: (* denotes debut)

1. Jarred Adams (Suburbs)*
2. Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)*
3. Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
4. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)
5. Jack Whetton (Grammar TEC)
6. Dalton Papali’I (Pakuranga)
7. Blake Gibson – Captain (Ponsonby)
8. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
9. Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)*
12. TJ Faiane (Pakuranga)
13. Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14. Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
15. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

16. Leif Schwencke (Suburbs)*
17. Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
18. Taniela Koroi (Marist)*
19. Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)*
20. Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)*
21. Jonathan Ruru (University)*
22. Daniel Kirkpatrick (University)*
23. Jacob Umaga (Eden)*