The Vodafone Wellington Lions team to play Northland in round five of the 2010 ITM Cup on Saturday 28 August at Westpac Stadium, kick-off 5.30pm, is as follows:

1. John Schwalger (Northern United)
2. Dane Coles (Poneke)
3. Neemia Tialata (Petone)
4. Jeremy Thrush (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
5. Mark Reddish (Oriental Rongotai)
6. Victor Vito (Marist St Pat's)
7. Scott Fuglistaller (Wests Roosters)
8. Rodney So'oialo (Wests Roosters, captain)
9. Alby Mathewson (Upper Hutt)
10. Fa'atonu Fili (Marist St Pat's)
11. Hosea Gear (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
12. Charlie Ngatai (Poneke)
13. Shaun Treeby (Tawa)
14. Julian Savea (Oriental Rongotai)
15. Apoua Stewart (Marist St Pat's)
    

Reserves

1. Ged Robinson (Marist St Pat's)
2. Jacob Ellison (Northern United)
3. Faifili Levave (Northern United)
4. Dean Brunsdon (Northern United)
5. Ruki Tipuna (Poneke)
6. Lima Sopoaga (Old Boys University)
7. Alapati Leiua (Northern United)
   

Rodney So'oialo and Victor Vito join the Vodafone Wellington Lions for the first time this year, while Alby Mathewson plays his 50^th game against the Northland Taniwha in round five of the ITM Cup this Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm.

So'oialo returns to rugby from a knee operation and captains the side from No. 8 and Vito slots in at blindside flanker having been released from the All Blacks squad to play this weekend.

The return of this pair, So'oialo in the side for Faifili Levave and Vito for Daniel Ramsay, are the only two changes to the Lions' starting XV from their 26-14 win over Waikato last Saturday. Levave drops to the bench for So'oilao, while the versatile Mark Reddish shifts from the side of the scrum into lock for Ramsay who has a shoulder injury.

The backline remains unchanged, where halfback Mathewson lines up for his 50^th match for the Lions. Mathewson, who scored a try against Northland last year, also scored a brilliant solo try in his second game and first ever start against the Tasman Makos in 2006. Since his debut he has gone on to play 32 of his 49 games at halfback and 17 off the bench. He has played in 39 winning Wellington teams and just 10 losing sides and has also played 49 Super rugby games for the Hurricanes and Blues and one Test.

The Lions substitutions bench to play Northland has two changes from that which met Waikato, Api Naikatini making way for Levave and loose forward TJ Ioane dropping out for Northern United and former New Zealand U19 loose forward Dean Brunsdon.

The Lions head into this clash with Northland with three wins from four after the opening month of the 2010 ITM Cup. Last Saturday's 26-14 victory over Waikato pushed them to 14 competition points, just three points adrift of frontrunners Southland on 17. Northland are coming off a 13-26 defeat to Auckland at Eden Park, but two wins from their opening three matches, including a 77-8 win over Manawatu in round three, sees them in seventh place heading into round five.

Led by evergreen former Lions first five-eighth David Holwell, who played his 100^th game for his home province in this corresponding clash last year, the Taniwha play a positive style with a hard working pack and fleet-footed outside backs.

Last year when the two teams met the Lions ran up a 41-7 win with the sun on their backs Whangarei. Last year's encounter was also their first since 2005 when Ma'a Nonu scored a hat trick in a 43-27 win, also in Whangarei, but the two unions who represent the top and the bottom of the North Island have a rich history dating back over 70 years.

Overall, Wellington and Northland (formerly North Auckland) have played 30 times since their first meeting in 1939 in Whangarei won by Northland 11-3. Their head-to-head records stands at 20 wins for Wellington, eight for Northland and two draws.

Northland won three of their first five encounters (in 1939, 1961 and 1967) while the other two of these were draws (1954 and 1970). The Lions' first win over Northland was a 13-0 victory in the inaugural NPC in 1976.  This was also Wellington's first ever home game in the NPC/ITM Cup competition (10 July 1976).

In 25 NPC/ITM Cup encounters between 1976-2009 Wellington has won 20 and Northland five.

They last met in Wellington in 2004, the Lions scoring nine tries in a 65-12 win. This was one of just three visits that Northland has made to Westpac Stadium so far. In previous trips there in 2000 Northland won 30-24 and in 2002 the Lions won 51-18. Northland's win in 2000 was Wellington's first ever NPC/ITM Cup loss at Westpac Stadium.

Wellington's record in all NPC/ITM Cup matches against Northland in Wellington (including Athletic Park) is played 13, won 11 and lost two.

Northland's biggest winning score against Wellington was 37-10 in Whangarei 20 years ago in 1989, while Wellington's biggest score and widest margin of victory against Northland was in the 65-12 win at Wellington in 2004.

Ma'a Nonu (2005) and prop Brian McGrattan (1984) are the two Wellington players to have scored three tries in a match against Northland.

Bernie Fraser scored seven tries in eight games for Wellington against Northland between 1978-1985, including a try in each game against them on six consecutive occasions between 1978-1983.

Murray Mexted scored four tries in three games for Wellington against Northland between 1982-1984, including two tries in 1982.

John Gallagher scored two tries and kicked four penalties and four conversions against Northland in 1988 for a record 28 points in one match by a Wellington player against Northland.

Jon Preston scored two tries and scored 20 points overall as part of Wellington's 35-27 win over Northland in 1998.

David Holwell scored 41 points in four matches for Wellington against Northland between 1999-2003.

The most tries scored by Wellington in an NPC match against Northland is 11 at Wellington in 1984.The most tries scored by Northland in an NPC match against Wellington is six at Whangarei in 1989.

Wellington has scored a total of 95 tries in all NPC matches against Northland.

Wellington has scored four or more tries in each of its last six NPC matches against Northland.

Northland has scored a total of 45 tries in all NPC matches against Wellington.