The South Pacific Raiders take on the Kia Toa Tigers in the final of the Otago Rugby League Competition at 2.30 today at the Oval.
The Raiders will go into the game as favourites after beating the Tigers in two round-robin clashes 30-12 and 30-14 respectively. But the Tigers will take heart out of last week's two-point loss to a combined Premier side, which had 10 Raiders players in it.
The Raiders have been the form team all season, losing only one game.
Raiders coach Dave Reedy said previous results counted for nothing if you lost the big one. Reedy said his side was missing a few players due to university exams and holidays but he said his team had a simple game plan tailored to their opposition.
He was expecting a hard game and said the Tigers were a very physical side.
"They are a good team, who when confident are a tough proposition for any side."
Tigers coach Sonny Tero said his team was looking forward to the final and had a good week training.
He said his team was free of injury and the focus all week had been on game plan; now it was about putting it all together.
Tero expected the Raiders to try to move the ball a lot quicker and use their young pack to run the Tigers around.
"Both teams have some game breakers and the match-up between Tigers lock Shane Unahi and Raiders lock Manassah Kutia should be a beauty.
"The Raiders will be wary of the Tigers halfback Joel Taniora and standoff Ryan Tapsell, who on their day can tear any side apart."
Equally, the Tigers will want to shut down the Raiders centre pairing of Joe Kirkner and Graeme Cashmore, who have formed a good combination, and second-rower Jermaine Stone, who has had a fine season.
It has been an up and down season for the comeback of rugby league.
The competition fell away a little towards the end due to university exams and the Harbour Seals players' work commitments, but there has also been some fine performances and there is a good base to build on in the future.
The Otago/Southland competition will start in a fortnight.
Teams will be confirmed later in the week.
