
The Otago tighthead prop does not necessarily see it that way.
But her side will have to get over some significant hurdles to prevail in their semifinal encounter against Northland in Whangārei.
The biggest of which is the Spirit are missing several key players.
Veteran fullback Sheree Hume and potent midfielder Keely Hill have been ruled out after picking up injuries during the 39-13 win against North Harbour in Dunedin last weekend.
Hume is Otago’s most capped played with 70 games, and Hill’s ability to break the line will be sorely missed.
Then there is the taxing trip to Whangārei. And once they get to Semenoff Stadium they will find some very big bodies waiting to do battle.
Northland’s physicality was a major factor in their 42-20 win against the Spirit during the round-robin.
Doyle’s job is to help get parity up front.
"They probably out-muscled us. They were quite physical in a way that we weren’t quite prepared for,"she said.
"We fought back quite hard, but it was not enough to get us over the line.
"But we’ve got our plans to shut them down."
Doyle shapes as a key player for the Spirit to help match Northland’s strength. She is a strong carrier and one of the players who can get the ball over the advantage line.
"I think it will be a shared responsibility in the tight five to take it to them up front. But I back all 15 of our girls and our finishers to bring that physicality."
The 26-year-old is the sports co-ordinator at Tahuna Normal Intermediate. She was supposed to start the job at the start of the year but was called into the Matatū Super Rugby Aupiki squad.
She played in the game against the Blues in Dunedin in late February.
"I was pretty shocked to even be in the mix for the squad," she said.
"It was one of the best rugby experiences of my life. Just being a part of that campaign and rubbing shoulders with world cup Black Ferns and getting to train fulltime was pretty surreal."
It was also a great welcome back. Doyle , who grew up in Waikouaiti and started playing rugby while she was primary school, missed all of last season due to a knee injury.
But she has made up for some lost time this year. She scored twice in the club final to help Alhambra-Union win its first senior women’s title in 11 years.
She made her debut for the Matatū of course, and today she has an opportunity to help the Spirit make the final again.
Last year, Otago powered through the round-robin but where upset by the Hawke’s Bay Tui in the final.
That experience has helped harden the resolve in the team and Doyle hopes the struggles they have had this season will provide an edge.
"To be honest, those games not going our way has helped shape us into the team that we are now and I believe we are peaking at the right time.
"I feel we are getting better and better and the confidence in our side has grown significantly.
"I have faith that Northland are going to face a different Spirit side than who they faced weeks ago."
Farah Palmer Cup championship semifinal
Whangārei, 5.05pm today
Otago Spirit: Charlotte Va’afusuaga, Atawhai Hotene, Cheyenne Cunningham, Oceana Campbell, Jamie Church, Maia Joseph, Georgia Cormick, Bella Rewiri-Wharerau, Leah Miles, Zoe Whatarau, Julia Gorinski (captain), Ella Gomez, Eilis Doyle, Tegan Hollows, Pesalini Lave-Heehau. Reserves: Hannah Lithgow, Paige Church, Isla Pringle, Kayley Johnson, Grace Hastie, Abigail Paton, Rawinia Ngamoki-Moana, Lucy Hall.
Northland Kauri: Tara Turner, Kerri Johnson, Alisha Proctor, Aroha Savage, Ocean Tierney, Pohutukawa Kakara, Holli O’Sullivan, Hikitia Wikaira, Tui McGeorge, Justice Karena, Corina Blair, Charmaine Smith, Kahurangi Shelford, Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, Krystal Murray. Reserves: Trish Vaka, Kredence Brown, Wikitoria Rogers, Tuira Stowers, Lara Cooper, Carly Whaikawa, Harmony Covacich-Baanders, Serai Murray-Wihongi.