Bay of Plenty referee Brett Johnson couldn't have picked a better match to make his Investec Super Rugby debut.

The former Steamers flanker made his debut appearance as assistant referee in the closely fought Blues and Hurricanes game at Eden Park last weekend.

Bay of Plenty referee Brett Johnson. Photo: File

'It was an intense affair and I was extremely excited by being involved,” says Johnson.

Bay referees will once again be in the thick of it for round four of the Investec Super Rugby competition this weekend with Shane McDermott, Nick Briant and Glen Jackson controlling matches in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

McDermott will again be take his place in the TMO chair when the Hurricanes take on the Force at in Palmerston North tonight.

Straight afterwards, coverage heads to Sydney's Allianz Stadium where Nick Briant will be the man in the middle when the Highlanders clash with the Waratahs.

While early Saturday morning Glen Jackson, fresh from his Six Nations match in Edinburgh last weekend, will referee the Bulls and Sharks match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, South Africa.

Jackson will then head to Johannesburg's Emirates Airlines Park where he'll be assistant referee for South Africa's Stuart Berry when the Lions and Cheetahs game on Sunday morning.