Five wingers fighting for two spots in Waratahs line-up for clash with Lions in Sydney

FIVE into two won’t go, leaving NSW’s wing options fighting a fierce battle this week to gain selection for Sunday’s match against the Lions.

FIVE into two won’t go, leaving NSW’s wing options fighting a fierce battle this week to gain selection for Sunday’s match against the Lions.

Rob Horne and Matt Carraro started on the wings for the Waratahs in their last match, the scintillating victory over the Hurricanes, but new signing Taqele Naiyaravaro is the cat among the pigeons that also includes Alofa Alofa and Cam Crawford.

Both Alofa and Crawford have started for the Tahs this year, while NSW coach Michael Cheika saw enough from Naiyaravaro’s two-try Shute Shield debut last Saturday to put him in the frame this week.

Carraro and Naiyaravaro are contracted to NSW for next year, while Horne, Alofa and Crawford are on the lookout for new deals.

“There is a lot of competition in the squad, Cheika’s said that from the start, that’s what he wanted to build, and I guess that’s why training has been so full on,” said Carraro, who has mostly come off the bench this season and shown impressive form.

“He doesn’t want anyone to become complacent and think they’ve got a spot wrapped up.

“Every week you’re hoping to hold on to your spot, I’ve been lucky enough to keep that bench spot all season, very happy with that,” Carraro said.News_Rich_Media: Fox Sports Rugby commentator Greg Clark breaks down the weekend's Super Rugby results

“With big ‘T’ coming in, let’s just see how quick he can adapt to rugby.

“I heard he went quite well on the weekend, he’s got to get his head around our style of play.”

Alofa, who is on a rookie contract, was the Tahs’ preferred starting winger this season before he sustained a knee injury on the South African tour.

He returned off the bench against the Hurricanes and is hoping to secure a new deal with NSW in the coming weeks.

“I’m just grateful to be here in this position, if anything does happen I’ll take it,” Alofa said.

“I don’t see myself anywhere but here, but if something doesn’t happen for me here then I might as well have to look somewhere else.

“But I love it here, the boys are so good here, and the coaching I really like too because it’s the type of play I want to play.”

Alofa, who played a full game for West Harbour in the Shute Shield last weekend, revealed he had come up against Naiyaravaro two years ago when both played league.

Alofa was playing fullback for Newtown Jets when they defeated Balmain Ryde-Eastwood, who had Naiyaravaro in the backrow, in the 2012 NSW Cup final.

“Taqele is a good bloke, really humble, I like him,” Alofa said.

“And it’s good for me because it makes me train even harder and I know that it’s a business.

“You’ve got to train hard every day and make sure the coaches see you, and know that you’re ready to play.

“And if someone else comes in and is about to take your spot, you train twice as hard.”

On Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium, NSW – coming off the bye - will attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since their opening two games of 2014.

“I think we’re a team that plays 80 minutes now, not 40 here and 20 there,” Alofa said.

“We’re striving to be a consistent rugby team.”