The Vodafone Wellington Lions team to play Manawatu in round six of the 2010 ITM Cup on Saturday 4 September at Palmerston North, kick-off 2.35pm, is as follows:

1. Jacob Ellison (Northern United)
2. Ged Robinson (Marist St Pats)
3. John Schwalger (Northern United)
4. Jeremy Thrush (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
5. Mark Reddish (Oriental Rongotai)
6. Victor Vito (Marist St Pats)
7. Scott Fuglistaller (Wests Roosters)
8. Rodney So'oialo (Wests Roosters, captain)
9. Alby Mathewson (Upper Hutt)
10. Fa'atonu Fili (Marist St Pats)
11. Alapati Leiua (Northern United)
12. Shaun Treeby (Tawa)
13. Tajhon Mailata (Marist St Pats)
14. Julian Savea (Oriental Rongotai)
15. Apoua Stewart (Marist St Pats)

Reserves

16. Motu Matu'u (Oriental Rongotai)
17. David Te Moana (Hutt Old Boys Marist)
18. Faifili Levave (Northern United)
19. Dean Brunsdon (Northern United)
20. Ruki Tipuna (Poneke)
21. Lima Sopoaga (Old Boys University)
22. Buxton Popoalii (Northern United)

The Coronation Cup and ITM Cup points are on the line when the Vodafone Wellington Lions take on the Manawatu Turbos in Palmerston North this Saturday afternoon.

The Vodafone Wellington Lions can maintain their position among the ITM Cup frontrunners if they win this round six encounter against their Hurricanes franchise rivals Manawatu, who will be eager to knock over the Lions and secure their first win of the year.

Lions coaches Andre Bell and Richard Watt have made a handful of changes, including a new front row and midfield pairing, for this match from the team that pipped Northland 31-28 at home last Saturday.

The front row sees 2007 Turbos hooker Ged Robinson replace Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison come into the starting side at loosehead prop and John Schwalger switch from the loosehead to the tighthead side of the scrum for Neemia Tialata. Former Manawatu prop David Te Moana and hooker Motu Matu'u come on to the bench for the first time this year.

Tajhon Mailata earns his first ITM Cup start for the Lions at centre in place of Charlie Ngatai and newly named Highlander Shaun Treeby moves in one position to second five-eighth.

Alapati Leiua replaces an inured Hosea Gear (hamstring) on the left wing. Buxton Popoalii comes on to the substitutions bench.

Although Wellington has had the better of Manawatu in recent times, the two unions have fought several epic battles for NPC and Coronation Cup ascendancy. The Coronation Cup was presented by the Arnott family to the Manawatu Rugby Union in the Queen's coronation year of 1953, to be contested between Manawatu and Wellington. For many seasons the two unions played an annual Queen's Birthday fixture for the Coronation Cup.

Saturday's clash will be the 18th meeting between the Lions in Manawatu in the ITM Cup/NPC since their first in 1976. Of the previous 17, Wellington has won 14 and Manawatu three. Wellington has won the last 10 straight ITM Cup matches against Manawatu, whose last ITM Cup win over Wellington was 28-9 in 1982.

All three of Manawatu's previous wins over the Lions were at home at Palmerston North between 1976-1982. The last time Manawatu defeated Wellington in a first-class fixture (non-NPC) was in 1989 when they won 32-15 at Palmerston North and current Turbos coach Dave Rennie scored Wellington's only try.

Memorable wins for the Lions against Manawatu include 15-9 in 1980, the year Manawatu won the NPC, and 28-10 in 1981 at a packed Athletic Park, the game which sealed Wellington's second NPC title. Tana Umaga played his 100th and last game for the Lions in a 37-7 win at Westpac Stadium in 2007.

Last year the Lions scored seven tries in winning 43-15 after leading just 14-8 at halftime, halfback Alby Mathewson scoring two tries.

In their previous two clashes in Palmerston North since the expanded 14-team competition started four seasons ago, the Lions won 11-3 in 2006 and 36-13 in 2008.

In the era prior to the NPC /ITM Cup, Wellington and Manawatu met 67 times from their first encounter in 1887 (won 11-0 by Wellington) up until 1975, of which Wellington won 45, Manawatu 15 and there were seven draws. Wellington also played combined Manawatu-Horowhenua (Manawhenua) teams in first-class rugby variously between 1910-1956.

Wellington's biggest score (69) and biggest winning margin (66 points) against Manawatu came in their 69-3 victory in 1990. Four different players scored two tries each in an 11-try win.

Wellington also scored 11 tries in a 46-5 win over them in 1908 (today's score value 68-7), and scored 10 tries in a 46-0 win in 1962 (today's score 66-0).

Mike Clamp holds the NPC/ITM Cup record of four tries in one match against Manawatu in 1984 (24-9), a record against all sides that was equalled last season by Hosea Gear who crossed for four tries against Counties Manukau.

Allan Hewson holds the Wellington record for most points in all NPC/ITM Cup matches against Manawatu with 61.

John Gallagher holds the Wellington record for most points against Manawatu in an NPC/ITM Cup match with 24 points in Wellington in 1987.

As well as Clamp, G.G Walsh scored four tries against Manawatu, in a 30-6 victory in 1955, while D. Rush (1908), E. Nees (1933), E. Jamieson (1944) and Steve Pokere (1987) are the other Wellington players to have scored hat tricks against Manawatu.

Steve Pokere scored a try, and kicked eight conversions and three penalties for a Wellington individual record 29 points against Manawatu in a non NPC/ITM Cup match 1990, while Simon Mannix amassed 88 points in five of Wellington's six non NPC/ITM Cup matches against them between 1991-1996.