The Dunedin Thunder will host the opening match of the national league finals against the Canterbury Red Devils on Sunday.
The Dunedin side finished the regular season behind the top-seeded Red Devils after splitting their two matches against the Admirals in Auckland at the weekend.
A couple of big wins, plus two Canterbury losses against the Southern Stampede, would have given the Thunder a chance of clinching home advantage in two of the three (if required) games on goal differential.
However, the Thunder's 4-0 loss on Sunday ended that slim chance and means it will have to win in Christchurch at least once to win the championship.
The Red Devils inflicted two heavy defeats, 6-1 and 6-0, on the Thunder in Christchurch earlier this month.
Sunday's shutout loss followed a brilliant game on Saturday when the Thunder came from 4-1 down at the end of the first period to win 8-7.
The second and third (if required) matches of the finals are in Christchurch on August 30-31.
Elsewhere, the Southern Stampede finished its season with a 5-4 loss to the Red Devils in Queenstown on Saturday to finish third.
The loss followed a convincing 6-3 win over the same opponent on Friday night.
- Robert van Royen
