Blues seek to end 18 years of pain

For the first time since 2003, the Blues will contest a Super Rugby final, and players and fans alike are desperate to bring an end to the title drought.

It might not be the full Super Rugby competition but for a team labelled consistent under-achievers for the past decade, beating the Highlanders at Eden Park tonight to lift the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman trophy would mean just as much.

The Blues beat the Crusaders in 2003 to claim their third and last Super Rugby title, with former All Black number 8 Xavier Rush as captain.

The Blues haven't even reached the playoffs since 2011 and Rush told Radio NZ it's heartening to see them back at the top.

The Blues have gone 18 years without a Super Rugby title while the Highlanders last won in 2015.

This will be the second meeting between the Blues and Highlanders in a Super Rugby finals fixture.

The Blues defeated the Highlanders 37-31 in the 1998 semi-final.

These two sides have met 37 times and the Blues have won 20 of those matches.

The Blues will host the Highlanders at Auckland's Eden Park at 7.05 tonight.

Blues: 1. Alex Hodgman 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Nepo Laulala 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti 5. Patrick Tuipulotu © 6. Akira Ioane 7. Dalton Papalii 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Otere Black 11. Mark Telea 12. TJ Faiane 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Bryce Heem 15. Zarn Sullivan Reserves:16. Ray Niuia 17. Karl Tu’inukuafe 18. Marcel Renata 19. Josh Goodhue 20. Blake Gibson 21. Jonathan Ruru 22. Harry Plummer 23. AJ Lam Highlanders:1. Ethan De Groot 2. Ash Dixon (cc) 3. Siate Tokolahi 4. Pari Pari Parkinson 5. Bryn Evans 6. Hugh Renton 7. Billy Harmon 8. Kazuki Himeno 9. Aaron Smith (cc) 10. Mitch Hunt 11. Jona Nareki 12. Scott Gregory 13. Michael Collins 14. Patelesio Tomkinson 15. Josh Ioane.

Reserves: 16. Liam Coltman 17. Ayden Johnstone 18. Josh Hohneck 19. Josh Dickson 20. James Lentjes 21. Kayne Hammington 22. Sam Gilbert 23. Teariki Ben-Nicholas.

[Source: Radio NZ]