The 2010 rugby year starts

TRAINING HARD: Southland's Robbie Robinson will make his Super 14 debut for the Highlanders this weekend if he gets an opportunity against the Crusaders in their season opener in Christchurch.

Robbie Robinson lines up Super 14 debut

Highlanders young gun Robbie Robinson is counting down the sleeps until Saturday's Super 14 season opener against the Crusaders in Christchurch.

The Southland backline utility has experienced plenty of highs in his young rugby career, with last year's Ranfurly Shield triumph and the New Zealand under-20 side's world championship title win no doubt topping the list.

Robinson will tick another box on his list this weekend, though, if he runs on for the Highlanders to make his Super 14 debut.

Israel Dagg should line up at fullback for the Highlanders on Saturday, with Matt Berquist expected to start the season at first five-eighth, meaning Robinson could be an option off the bench because of his versatility value.

The 20-year-old rising star said he had always been a "mad follower" of Super rugby since a young age and it would be a great feeling if he finally got to wear the Highlanders colours.

"It's the franchise I've always wanted to play for," he said.

Robinson got a brief look at Super 14 rugby last year when he was on a rookie contract and trained with the Highlanders during the preseason.

He said there was much more responsibility this year, though, knowing he was a fully fledged member of the Highlanders squad.

"During preseason last year I was part of it, but it's still been a tough couple of months.

"It's just full on every day. You wake up every morning and you're sore and you've got to get back into it," he said.

The Highlanders face a test of mammoth proportions when they head north to take on South Island rivals the Crusaders on Saturday.

With the Crusaders favourites for the Super 14 title again this year, and the side stacked with talent across the park, the Highlanders will start as heavy underdogs, but Robinson believed it was an opportune time to strike the red-and-blacks first up. "We've had a pretty good preseason. You like to measure yourself against the best."

There is a positive feeling around the Highlanders this season, with 20 players back from last year and Glenn Moore and Peter Russell again in charge of the side.

Robinson said he believed this had to be the year that the Highlanders ended their inconsistent ways and pushed for a place in the semifinals.

"That's been a huge emphasis for us," he said. "There's a lot of senior guys in there this year."

Robinson spent most of last year's Air New Zealand Cup with Southland in the No 10 jersey, but said the Highlanders coaching staff had indicated he would mainly be used at fullback this season.

Ad Feedback If Matt Berquist and Michael Hobbs are unable to make a fist of it in the pivot role early in the season, though, it would come as no surprise to see Robinson run the show from first five.

For now, though, Robinson is just keen for Saturday to roll around and the first game of the season to start after months of preseason hard yakka.

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