While the Bay of Plenty Steamers sit at the top of the ITM Cup Premiership with an unbeaten record, they are according this week's opponent a considerable amount of respect.

Chris Noakes is starting Thursday's match against Northland in the number 15 jersey pushing Sunday's try scorer Toby Arnold to the bench.

As much motivation as the Steamers need for the match-up with Northland at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on Thursday evening will be provided with the stark memory from the meeting between the two sides last season.

Any chances that the side had of a 2010 ITM Cup semi-final appearance disappeared when they were then defeated by Northland, losing the encounter 36-24.

However, the Bay of Plenty Steamers has made an outstanding start to the 2011 ITM Cup with the scalps of Counties Manukau, North Harbour, Waikato and Wellington in four games in just two weeks.

Few teams are able to dismantle provincial heavyweight Wellington as the Steamers did last Sunday, winning 32-nil.

Steamers assistant coach Paul Feeney is keen for more of the same.

'We are extremely focused on continuing our current run of form and want to take at least four points from the encounter in the far north,” says Paul.

'The team still has very vivid memories of last season where Northland beat us in the final game of the season.”

Head coach Sean Horan has again rung the changes in the starting line-up, as he endeavours to keep players fresh during the condensed 2011 ITM Cup season.

'We have made a minimum of six changes in each of the games we have played this season with outstanding results,” says Paul.

Three of the best young loosies in the country will run out on to Toll Stadium.

Super 15 loose forward Luke Braid, who has been given the captaincy for the match, will start alongside Sam Cane and Carl Axtens.

One player, who will see a lot of familiar faces in the opposition ranks, is Bronson Murray, who numbered nearly a century of games in the Cambridge blue strip before signing for the Steamers this season.

Chris Noakes, who along with Dan Waenga has proved extremely reliable sharing the kicking responsibilities, will wear the number 15 jersey for the first time, with Jason Hona slotting inside flying Steamers winger Lelia Masaga at centre.

Bay of Plenty Steamers v Northland August 4 @ Toll Stadium Whangarei – kickoff 7.35pm

1 Pingi Talaapitaga 2 Dan Perrin 3 Bronson Murray 4 Leon Power 5 Leighton Price 6 Carl Axtens 7 Sam Cane 8 Luke Braid 9 Taniela Moa 10 Dan Waenga 11 Lance MacDonald 12 Steve Kefu 13 Jason Hona 14 Lelia Masaga 15 Chris Noakes

Reserves: John Pareanga, Tristan Moran, Culum Retallick, Tanerau Latimer, Jamie Nutbrown, Toby Arnold, Ben Smith, Greg Pleasants Tate.

Coach: Sean Horan

Assistant Coach: Paul Feeney

Manager: Ross Everiss

Physios: Damian Banks & Paul Cameron

Doctor: Morne du Plessis

F&C Coach: Murray Pedersen

Analyst: Dean Jennings.

Bay of Steamers 2011 ITM Cup Schedule

17 July – BOP Steamers 20 Counties Manukau 13

23 July – BOP Steamers 38 North Harbour 17

26 July – BOP Steamers 36 Waikato 8

31 July – BOP Steamers 32 Wellington 0

4 August (Thursday) v Northland @ Whangarei

9 August (Tuesday) v Taranaki @ New Plymouth

13 August (Saturday) v Hawkes Bay @ Rotorua International Stadium

20 August (Saturday) v Auckland @ Eden Park, Auckland

23 August (Tuesday) v Canterbury @ BayPark, Mount Maunganui

28 August (Sunday) v Southland @ Invercargill