Stallions to maintain the rage

The adrenalin will be pumping tomorrow night when the Wai-Coa-Bay Stallions run on to Waikato Stadium to play the curtainraiser for the main game between the New Zealand Warriors and the Parramatta Eels.

The Stallions played some of their finest league in last week's win over the Counties Manukau Jetz and will look to produce more of the same against this week's rivals, the Central Falcons.

Co-coach Len Reid said playing in a curtainraiser at Waikato Stadium would change the style of the game.

"When you play in an arena like the stadium, adrenalin takes over. The game will be played 10 per cent faster than normal and we just have to make sure we don't burn out."

He said the fact the Falcons had won three games this season and were higher on the table than his side counted for nothing.

"We proved that last week. The Jetz were equal first on points and we were at the bottom."

The win had put "a spring in the step" of both the players and the team's management staff".

In another boost to the home team's stocks, Sam Rapira will return to the fray tomorrow night after two weeks' off with concussion.

"He's a very busy player. It's certainly not a bad thing," Reid said.

Bam Teleaga has also been given another life after a high tackle in last week's game, side-stepping a suspension.

But it's not all good news for the Stallions.

Peter Prime is carrying a hip injury and Nicki Kaa has an ankle injury. Both will undergo fitness assessments before being considered for the match.

Reid said his side would do all it could to reverse the result seen in round one of the season. The Stallions went down 34-26.

Tomorrow's curtainraiser at Waikato Stadium will kick off at 5.15pm, with the main game starting at 7.30pm.