It’s a leap in to the unknown for Canterbury against Manawatu in the first round of the Air New Zealand Cup this Saturday at AMI Stadium.

While some of the Manawatu squad has had Super 14 experience, the bulk of the squad has significantly less big match experience than their Canterbury opponents.

As a result of that and the fact that this is the first round of the competition, Canterbury will be going in to the match somewhat blind.

Canterbury has had a sound build-up leading in to the competition. While the weather has not helped them (and in fact made the game against Wellington last Friday something of a lottery), the systems that have been installed and tweaked this season have been successfully tested.

There is a new and exciting feel about this Canterbury side. With Kieran Read and Paul Williams at the helm, you sense that this red and black side combines promise and potential with seasoned professionalism.

While some of the home players may not be well-known outside the province, there is a core of young players within the Canterbury squad who will make their mark not only nationally, but internationally.

For example, young High School Old Boys first-five Colin Slade has the type of promise that we have come to expect from number tens from that famous club. A member of the New Zealand Under-21 squad last season, he oozes class and time and is a joy to watch.

Another member of that national under-21 squad, George Whitelock, is also someone to keep an eye on. In his first full season with Canterbury, as well as being a top athlete, he is also a fine leader.

While Canterbury will be without a number of experienced campaigners – most notably Corey Flynn and Casey Laulala – for some of the season their absences gives a number of the young brigade the opportunity to shine in this environment.

While it is unrealistic to expect Canterbury to produce their best rugby in round one of the Air New Zealand Cup, they will still be hoping to gain some momentum that will hold them in good stead later in the season.

Following a successful Crusaders season can be both a help and a hindrance for the Canterbury provincial side: a help in the sense that confidence is high, but a hindrance in the sense that every union knows you are the side to beat.

Still, Canterbury will be taking nothing for granted against the Turbos. “They are a good side and their results improved significantly last year,” Canterbury coach Rob Penney says. “We will be taking nothing for granted (against them) and we know that we are going to have to play well to beat them.”

For Manawatu the challenge is to continue to improve on their reasonable results achieved last season. While national expectations may not have been significant last year, Manawatu did themselves proud with two wins and a draw in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Drawing with Otago was especially pleasing, although they will be looking to improve on their overall results this season. Their big strength is that they now have a group of players who are more experienced and hardened in the harsh world of Air New Zealand Cup rugby.

“They have been there and done that now,” their coach Dave Rennie says, “and I think they are stronger as a result.”

Undoubtedly Manawatu has plenty of talent from which to call on. Electing a policy of developing and investing in local players, they have shown that you don’t have to be a Super 14 host union to build a good team.

Hayden Triggs and Johnny Leota both had fine seasons with the Highlanders this year, reinforcing the belief that better performances are to come from this side.

The exciting thing about the Turbos is that because most of their players are homegrown, they have an identity and an emotional connection with their province. Leota, for example, was schooled at Palmerston Boys’ High School. Manawatu is not just a team for these players, it is a heritage.

While Manawatu may not have the depth of other unions, they have the spirit that comes from being a part of the heartland of New Zealand rugby. They will be no easy-beats. Pre-season, their results have been promising (including an away win against Taranaki).

Saturday therefore promises to be a jump in to the unknown for both provinces. While Canterbury will start favourites, form at this stage of the season means nothing. While on an individual level it will be exciting to see a number of highly promising young players make their mark on the national scene, collectively it will be an interesting look at which of these provinces is set to shine in 2008.

The Canterbury team to play Manawatu in the Air New Zealand Cup at AMI Stadium, Christchurch on Saturday 2 August, kick-off 2.35pm is: