Otago Spirit captain Angie Sisifa knows it is ''do or die'' time for her side when it faces the Auckland Storm in Auckland today.
Table-topping Auckland, which has won the women's NPC every year but 2006 (Wellington) since it debuted in 1999, has won all six of its matches this season.
Sisifa (24), in her fourth year in the team but first as captain, knows anything but a win will wipe the Spirit out of the equation for a top-two finish and place in the final.
''It's definitely a must win ... we have got nothing to lose this weekend. Auckland has got everything to lose,'' she said.
Otago is coming off a gut-wrenching 15-10 loss to Waikato last week and sits five points behind second-placed Canterbury in fourth place.
Auckland hammered Manawatu 39-8 last week and has scored 296 points in the season, while conceding just 39.
However, the Spirit can take heart from the fact they went on the road in round four last year and upset Auckland 29-23.
Sisifa, who has been in blockbusting form at No8 this year, has scored the fourth-most (six) tries in the competition so far.
Born in Auckland and raised ''a little bit everywhere'', she calls New Plymouth home.
She moved to Dunedin in 2008 to study physical education and now works at Mt Cargill Trust.
The Spirit captain started playing rugby when she was in year 9 and has always played in the No6 or No8 jersey.
Having represented Taranaki at various age-group levels, she is now enjoying leading a youthful Otago team.
''I think it's an awesome culture. We have got a young team with a whole lot who have only had one or two years in the team. We have only got a handful who have played more than four seasons.
''Whatever we lack in fitness or skills, we make up for in commitment and passion.
''We are just a bunch of girls who play together and think we are one big family, one big unit,'' she said.
Otago's performance against Waikato last week was a vast improvement from its previous game, a 51-15 loss to Canterbury.
It put on a stout defensive effort and the scrum dismantled Waikato, allowing little front-foot ball, something Sisifa hopes continues today.
''I think between the Canterbury game and Waikato game, the big improvement was our defence.
"Hopefully our scrums are just as dominant [as last week] so we can put them on the back foot, even on attacking ball.
''We were lucky enough, with their game on TV, to watch them last week. So we got a few pointers on them,'' she said.
Otago hosts Manawatu at the University Oval next weekend to finish the regular season.
- Robert van Royen
Otago v Auckland
Auckland, today, 11.30am
Otago: Sheree Hume, Michaela Baker, Greer Muir, Kilisitina Moata'ane, Georgia Williams, Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, Megan Manson, Angie Sisifa (captain), Georgia Mason, Rebecca Todd, Epe Elisara, Michaela Smith, Gemma Tuhega, Lucy Emery, Phillipa Love. Reserves: Zoe Whatarau, Sophie Kuper, Julia Gorinski, Madeleine Finch, Deidre Roberts, Olivia Waldron, Samarra Soper.
Auckland: Mele Hufanga, Brittany Coates, Chermaine McMenamin, Onjeurlina Leiataua, Shannon Leota, Ruahei Demant, Emma Jensen, Linda Itunu, Justine Lavea, Lydia Crossman (captain), Charlene Halapua, Eloise Blackwell, Aldora Itunu, Fiaoo Faamausili, Aleisha Nelson. Reserves: Aimee Lenssen, Lelani Perese, Rebecca Burch, Roseanne Cox, Aeron Warbrooke, Marina Apfel, Tiana Ngawati.
