The champion will rise in the next three.
Last year, Kaikorai snatched the Dunedin division 1 title after finishing the round robin in sixth place.
Harbour also beat the odds to reach the final.
That goes to show how little the round robin actually means.
As long as you get to the playoffs, you have a chance.
And perhaps the most interesting playoff game this weekend is a rematch of the final.
Harbour have flown under the radar, while Kaikorai have hit the headlines with their sparkling back play and impressive loose forward unit.
Kaikorai will start as favourites. And rightly so.
They demolished Green Island 62-10 last weekend.
The Hawks also posted a big win. They brushed aside Alhambra-Union 70-12.
But it was perhaps their 32-23 win over Southern a week earlier that signified they are hitting some great form just in time.
First five Rique Miln shone in that game and his battle with seasoned Kaikorai pivot Ben Miller will be fascinating.
Harbour can field a monster front row of Abraham Pole, Gabriel Francesconi and Saula Ma’u.
Charles Elton is back from injury. He makes a big difference to the pack, and hard-working openside Toni Taufa will be looking to pull off more of his trademark heavy tackles.
If Kaikorai have an Achilles’ heel, it is their tight five and Harbour have the pack to exploit it.
That very idea has also crossed the mind of Hawks coach Ewan Brumwell.
‘‘I think that’s probably a key area for us,’’ Brumwell said.
‘‘We’ve talked a bit about how we’re going to play in the right areas and play at our speed, so we can make sure we maximise our set piece, because we feel that’s an area that we can possibly take them down.
‘‘And, obviously, they typically want to play with a lot of speed. They caught us out [earlier in the season] with that speed of play, so we’re aware of that.
‘‘So when we get the opportunity to slow it down and play our pace and use our big boys, then we’ll certainly do that.’’
It really will be a clash of styles.
The Demons have a classy loose forward unit that includes Lucas Casey, who has been talked about as a future All Black.
They have a lot of strike power out wide.
Midfielders Mefi Tupou and Jake Fowler know how to defeat the defence.
Outside backs Jake Hill and Charlie Breen are elusive.
And Kaikorai play an expansive brand of rugby which will get those big boys in the Hawks pack gasping.
The slower the game, the better as far as Harbour is concerned.
In the other two playoff games, Taieri will start as warm favourites against Green Island at Peter Johnstone Park, while the Southern-University match at Bathgate Park shapes as too close to call.
