Koubaridis on board for shield challenge | Manawatu-Wanganui Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Manawatu-Wanganui

Matthew Koubaridis will start Wanganui's Friday night's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland at halfback after sharp progress on his shoulder injury.

The newcomer to Wanganui rugby - although Waverley born - reported yesterday he felt right after getting through Saturday's rep practice in Marton and 40 minutes of Pirates' club match against Taihape.

That means some disappointment for Ricky Alabaster, but he's bound to get game time against Southland.

Elsewhere in the named squad, Ruapehu forward Fraser Hammond has withdrawn after suffering a "fresh" shoulder injury against Marton, and last year's Wanganui skipper David Gower joins Shane Ratima, Sam Madams and Sheldon O'Hagen in the forward reserves.

Koubaridis suffered a slap tear injury to his left shoulder in the recent match with Manawatu Evergreens and early prognosis was that he had little chance of making the shield match.

But some people heal quicker than others, and Koubaridis was away again at the weekend - although initially coach Guy Lennox deliverede a message that he shouldn't play the club match.

"I didn't want him to do that, but in the end it wasd probably the best thing that happened, because it gave him a dose of confidence," Lennox said.

Koubaridis agreed yesterday:

"I played 40 minutes and didn't feel the shoulder at all. I was a bit hesitant going in, but it was good to get a trot around and come out unscathed.

"It was a confidence boost - I really didn't want to go into a shield match without a hit-out to see if it would withstand a few tackles. I feel a lot happier now than I did last Friday."

Koubaridis left the Wanganui area after school to attend Massey University for three years, and played for High School Old Boys - making Manawatu Colts and B teams. He then went to Dunedin to seek a rep spot but his right shoulder suffered something similar to his recent injury - only much worse and he needed an operation and had half of 2007 and all of 2008 on the sideline.

He moved to Tauranga to work for rugby recruitment agency Inside Running, and that's where he was contacted by Lennox. And here he is.

Koubaridis says the shield challenge means plenty to the players.

"Everyone knows a shield challenge is a shield challenge, and stranger things have happened when you can put teams under pressure on the day.

"If we can take anything from what North Otago did, it is to take it to them for the first 20 minutes - and anything can happen from there."

The Wanganui team for the Tasmnan Tanning-sponsored challenge on Friday:

Ace Malo, Cameron Crowley, Lasa Ulukuta, Pehira Huwyler, John Mow, Mark Davis, Matthew Koubaridis,Darren Munro, Peter Rowe, Adam Roe, Nick Cranston, Jon Smyth, Matt Gilbert, Cole Baldwin, Shaun McDonough.

Subs: Shane Ratima, Sheldon O'Hagen, Sam Madams, David Gower; Ricky Alabaster, Areta Lama, Sam Scown.