• TJ Faiane, Melani Nanai and Robbie Abel return to the starting XV
• Michael Fatialofa makes his first appearance for Auckland this season

Auckland are in an unfamiliar position this week in having to prepare for game on the back of a loss in the Mitre 10 Cup.

Friday night’s match against Otago proved to be the first occasion on which Auckland has been undone in 2018 and they’ll be looking to resume standard transmission this Thursday night in the capital.

Wellington are back in the Premiership this year and are proving more than competitive with a semi-final spot beckoning and a potential Auckland scalp if the blue and white hoops don’t front at Westpac Stadium.

Auckland will have a number of payers return to the starting line-up with Robbie Abel, TJ Fainae and Melani Nanai all back in the starting XV.

On the flip-side, Jack Whetton is out for several weeks with a high ankle sprain and young midfielder Tanielu Tele’a won’t be back for this campaign having sustained damage to his knee on his first start for Auckland.

With all this in mind, Alama Ieremia is aware of the challenge that Wellington presents and the importance of his side getting back-on-track quickly with only two weeks left in the round-robin.

“Wellington are a very good team – they’re young, energetic, enthusiastic and they’ve been coached well by some pretty experienced coaches there, so we’ve just got to make sure we’re up for it”

If Auckland are to jump back on the horse, so to speak, and record a victory away from home on Thursday then they are in a prime position to lock-up a home semi-final with Southland and North Harbour to play next week.

Auckland team to play Wellington:

1. Sam Prattley (Pakuranga)
2. Robbie Abel (College Rifles)
3. Marcel Renata (University)
4. Michael Fatialofa (Ponsonby)
5. Fa’atiga Lemalu (Papatoetoe)
6. Evan Olmstead (Suburbs)
7. Dalton Papali’i (Pakuranga)
8. Akira Ioane (Ponsonby)
9. Leon Fukofuka (Marist)
10. Harry Plummer (Grammar TEC)
11. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
12. TJ Faiane – Captain (Pakuranga)
13. Tumua Manu (College Rifles)
14. Melani Nanai (Manukau Rovers)
15. Jacob Umaga (Eden)
16. Mike Sosene-Feagai (Mt Wellington)
17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Suburbs)
18. Marco Fepulea’i (Ponsonby)
19. Jamie Lane (Ponsonby)
20. Hoskins Sotutu (Marist)
21. Jonathan Ruru (University)
22. Caleb Clarke (Suburbs)
23. Jordan Trainor (Ponsonby)

Unavailable due to injury: Jack Whetton (ankle), Tanielu Tele’a (knee – season), Daniel Kirkpatrick (neck), Taleni Seu (back – season), Taniela Koroi (arm – season), Blake Gibson (quad – season), Lyndon Dunshea (shoulder – season)