A mixture of experience and youth makes up the Steamers team that will go head to head with Auckland in Whakatane today.

Head coach Clayton McMillan has named the side the will kick off the first pre-session game at Whakatane's Rugby Park on Russell St.

Sam Cane, picturee here playing with the Chiefs, has been named as one of the players that will play in today's pre-season match.

The side features eleven new caps, but also includes All Black Sam Cane who has been released to play prior to his anticipated return to All Black duty. 'The team has come together well over the last few months and I expect an encouraging performance,” says McMillan.

'Whilst a positive result in the pre-season fixture would be favourable, I'm more interested in achieving the small goals we have set in the lead up to the ITM Cup, and to see some individual and collective intent in everything we do.” Culum Retallick and Carl Axtens will co-captain today's Steamers team, kicking off at 2.30pm.

Following today's match, the team will play their final pre-season fixture against Manawatu on Thursday, August 6, at the Tauranga Domain.

The Steamers ITM Cup season will kick off at 8.05pm on Friday, August 14, at ASB Baypark Stadium, Mt Maunganui. Tickets are available online for all Steamers ITM Cup home games at www.boprugby.co.nz

Alternatively tickets can be purchased from the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union offices for all home games except for the Steamers match against Waikato to be held at the Tauranga Domain.

Tickets for this match can be purchased from Baycourt Ticketek Box Office, 38 Durham Street, Tauranga. Today's Steamers team is as follows:

Solomona Sakalia

Joe Royal

Pingi Tala'apitagi

Calum Retallick ©

Keepa Mewett

Shahn Eru

Sam Cane

Carl Axtens ©

Papa Wharewera

Nick Evemy

Terrence Hepetema

Lalakai Foketi

Chase Tiatia

Tino Nemani

Te Rangi Fraser

Reserves:

Seb Siataga

Aidan Ross

Jeff Thwaites

Troy Callander

Te Aihe Toma

Dan Hollinshead

Caleb Hall

Leroy van Dam

Whaimotu Craft-Chemis

Siegfried Fisi'ihoi