Blockbuster final packs 'em in

Ashton Heptonstall (6), of Dunedin, is flanked by Highlanders backs (from left) Waisake Naholo,...
Ashton Heptonstall (6), of Dunedin, is flanked by Highlanders backs (from left) Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Osborne and Marty Banks at Dunedin International Airport shortly before the team's flight to Wellington last night. Photo by Peter...
Highlanders fans Gary Smith and son Josh (15), of Cromwell, show their colours after arriving in...
Highlanders fans Gary Smith and son Josh (15), of Cromwell, show their colours after arriving in Wellington yesterday to be greeted by gale-force winds and rain. Photos by Craig Baxter.
Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu arrives at Wellington Airport last night.
Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu arrives at Wellington Airport last night.
Highlanders fan Leonie Yu Hoi gives a fist pump for the Highlanders at Dunedin International...
Highlanders fan Leonie Yu Hoi gives a fist pump for the Highlanders at Dunedin International Airport last night. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Balclutha-born Michael Brown and fiancee Larissa Hanley travelled from Australia for the game....
Balclutha-born Michael Brown and fiancee Larissa Hanley travelled from Australia for the game. Photo supplied.

Rugby fans are packing out Wellington as a rolling maul of southerners invades the capital ahead of today's Super Rugby final.

The sold-out Hurricanes versus Highlanders blockbuster is the hottest ticket in town and has brought an atmosphere akin to a big All Black match.

A group of Highlanders supporters were doing their bit to keep the tills ringing in a soggy city last night, downing a few quiets at sports bar Four Kings.

Balclutha-born Michael Browne flew in from central Queensland with his fiancee Larissa Hanley.

Mr Browne was picking a Highlanders win by nine in a game he will take in from pretty well the best seats in a chocker Westpac Stadium.

''I've got tickets halfway. It doesn't get much better than that,'' he said.

Today Mr Browne plans a catch-up with family before joining the ''Landers Army'' of 600 to 700 people from the South.

Then Mr Browne returns to reality with a bump - he is back to work on Monday after a long return flight and drive.

He and Miss Hanley travelled to Sydney for last week's semifinal against the Waratahs last weekend, as reported in the Otago Daily Times last Saturday.

''It was awesome. Everyone has underrated us for the whole season.''

Stuart Anderson, of Dunedin, was shouted a ticket by his brother Warren, who is jetting in from Sydney.

Mr Anderson said he made the trip north ''to see the Highlanders take the title''.

He expects an even encounter and was picking a Highlanders win, with star back Ben Smith to score the first try.

A smattering of people in supporters gear were among the passengers on the same Air New Zealand flight from Dunedin as the Highlanders.

Carol Brown, who was flying up to attend the game with her daughter Stephanie Fuller, said they had to buy tickets in separate parts of Westpac Stadium due to demand.

Chris Watt, of Mosgiel, is in a similar predicament, with his friend Nick Toa.

''We're sitting about quarter of the ground away from each other,'' Watt said.

Positively Wellington Tourism chief executive David Perks said the city's accommodation was ''pretty much full''.

''And the thinking is probably somewhere in excess of 20% of the tickets have been brought by people not living in Wellington.''

Mr Perks said most of those were by people from Otago and Auckland and he estimated the game could bring $8 million new spending to Wellington - similar to an All Blacks match.

- NZME./additional reporting Matt Smith

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