Auckland head to Orangetheory Stadium for a battle with old foes Canterbury in Round 8 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.

The Supporters Club Rugby Cup will go on the line Friday night as Auckland look to secure home-field advantage in the quarterfinals.

Auckland managed to jump-start their finals hopes with a 30-27 win over Tasman at Eden Park ink Round 7.

A physical encounter against the Mako has forced several changes due to injury to the Blue and White Hoops team against the Cantabrians.

Marcel Renata and Josh Beehre receive starting roles for the unavailable Jamie Lane and Angus Ta’avao. Connor Vest returns from injury and will look to enter later in the game.

Individual performances have been recognized for the Canterbury game. Sione Ahio was called into the team against Tasman as late cover on Friday night and found himself on the field within the first moments due to an injury to Angus Ta’avao.

Ahio remained on the field for the duration of the game and played his role in what was a dominant Auckland Scrum. The Waitemata Prop will join the Auckland bench this Friday night.

Waitemata teammate Niko Jones comes into the starting line-up, and East Tamaki loose forward Vaiolini Ekuasi returns to the Auckland squad.

Manukau winger Sofai Maka will join the NPC squad and look to inject himself into the game against Canterbury.

Auckland coach Craig McGrath says his team is relishing the opportunity they have in front of them.

“It has been another week of focusing on what we are doing right and building on that.

Canterbury is playing well and is one of the competitions' top teams. To take them on in Christchurch, we need no further motivation than that.”

Auckland takes on Canterbury for the Supporters Club Rugby Cup this Friday night at Orangetheory Stadium. Kick-off is at 7:05 pm.

Auckland team v Canterbury

1. Alex Hodgman (Eden)
2. Soane Vikena (Waitemata)
3. Marcel Renata (University)
4. Josh Beehre (Grammar TEC)
5. Hamish Dalzell (College Rifles)
6. Blake Gibson (Ponsonby)
7. Niko Jones (Waitemata)
8. Jackson Pugh (Marist)
9. Taufa Funaki (Marist)
10. Harry Plummer © (Grammar TEC)
11. Tomas Aoake (Ponsonby)
12. Corey Evans (Grammar TEC)
13. Bryce Heem (Grammar TEC)
14. AJ Lam (Grammar TEC)
15. Salesi Rayasi (Marist)
16. Robbie Abel (Waitemata)
17. Jordan Lay (University)
18. Sione Ahio (Waitemata)
19. Connor Vest (University)
20. Vaiolini Ekuasi (East Tamaki)
21. Manu Paea (Manukau)
22. Simon Hickey (Grammar TEC)
23. Sofai Maka (Manukau)

Unavailable due to Injury: Joshua Fusitua, Hamdahn Tuipulotu, Leni Apisai, Zarn Sullivan, Jordan Trainor, Tanielu Tele’a, Angus Ta’avao, Jamie Lane.