Israel Dagg to join Magpies in ITM | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

All Black Israel Dagg will play for the Hawke's Bay Magpies side in Saturday's ITM Cup clash against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua.

Magpies co-coach Peter Russell watched Dagg in his comeback match for Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports in the weekend's Maddison Trophy final and was impressed. Whether Dagg starts for Hawke's Bay or comes off the bench will not be decided until after this week's trainings.

However, it is still uncertain whether regular Magpies captain and No8 Mike Coman, who has missed the last three games with his neck injury, will play.

"Mike still needs more contact sessions. There is no doubt he is raring to go but it's important we get everything right. All going well, Mike will be on the team sheet this weekend," said Russell.

Lock Brodie Retallick, who missed Friday night's 40-20 win against Wellington with a broken nose, may also return against the Steamers.

First five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick has had a facial injury collected against his former Lions team stitched and is expected to be available for Saturday's game.

Russell described Friday night's victory as "pretty special and right up there among the highlights" of the five seasons he and fellow co-coach Tom Coventry have had with the Magpies.

"We said at the start of the season this year's team was one of the better ones we have had. It's a special group of guys and there's a lot more depth and hunger coming off the bench."

The Magpies depth will be tested during the coming weeks. Prop Sona Taumalolo has already left for the season because of his World Cup commitments with Tonga and four Samoans, halfback Kahn Fotuali'i, lock Kane Thompson and props Anthony Perenise and Logovi'i Mulipola will leave after the Steamers match. Prop Kaas Lealamanua got game time off the bench against the Lions and lock Maselino Paulino is about to resume full training after knee surgery.

For the first time this season, the Magpies have a seven-day spell between games. The squad had a weight session and outdoor recovery games today.

Tomorrow there will be gym training and a marae visit. Wednesday is a players' day off but several will visit the annual Onga Onga Sevens.

Normal training will resume on Thursday and on Friday there will be a Captain's Run before the side travel to Rotorua.