Dunedin has won 14 games on the trot and just needs one more win to complete a successful season.
At times it has played brilliant rugby but at other times the team goes to sleep and is just an average side.
Captain Sam Anderson-Heather knows this.
''We are great starters and great finishers but something switches off in the middle,'' he said.
But the captain believes that the team can win today.
''You've always got to be confident. If you're good enough to get this far you're good enough to win it. It depends on the performance on the day.''
Dunedin has the stronger pack and is expected to control the set pieces.
''We'd like to think our forwards will be able to dominate. Everyone knows that Taieri has a very sharp backline. It will be the challenge for our boys to get stuck into them.''
It is Anderson-Heather's fifth final. He was in the Dunedin team that won the banner in 2009.
''Even though it's my fifth final, it is still exciting. That is what you play all season for. I'm looking forward to the challenge.''
Anderson-Heather does not want to be the bridesmaid again today.
''The club's getting sick of becoming second in finals. We've had a few of them over the years. It would be nice to get another win.''
This will be the third time that O'Connell has led Taieri into the final and he is eager to make it three in a row today.
It does not get any easier.
''This year has been the toughest for us,'' he said.
O'Connell does not think that the Taieri pack will be out-muscled by the Dunedin forwards.
''For the last three years people have said that we have a weak pack. We know that if we can match them up front our classy backline will do the trick for us.
''We held our own against a very good Southern pack in the semifinal. Dunedin has a good set piece and it will be a big test for us.''
Taieri has looked a more polished and confident team this winter.
''The younger players have developed. We have 11 guys in the team who played in the 2011 final at Carisbrook,'' O'Connell said.
''To take that sort of experience into a final is good for us.''
O'Connell's grandfather Maurice Kerr was fullback in the Dunedin team that won the banner in 1951.
His grandmother Joyce Kerr will be watching the game at the Forsyth Barr Stadium today and backing Taieri.
The Taieri club has hired four buses to take its supporters to the Forsyth Barr Stadium.
A fifth bus has been hired to take the clubs two colts teams from Mosgiel to the game.
O'Connell appreciates the support.
''We are not doing it just for ourselves, but for the club. There will be lots of blue and gold and lots of noise. Our supporters give us a massive advantage.''
Dunedin won its first banner in 1885 and the last one was in 2009.
Taieri won its first banner in 1955, when it shared the championship trophy with University A.
Dunedin v Taieri:Road to the final
Taieri: Played 19 games, won 17, lost two. Points for 705, points against 335.
Dunedin: Played 19, won 17, lost 2. Points for 596, points against 326.
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Referee: James Doleman.
Time: 3pm.
The teams
Dunedin: Liam Edwards, Rowan McKenzie, Tim Tolovae, Kaituu Kaifana, Ashton Tuck, Kai Daniel, Brad Weber, Gareth Evans, Hugh Blake, Martin Swaffield, Richard Thompson, Mark Grieve-Dunn, Sean Smith, Sam Anderson-Heather (captain), Will Henry. Reserves: Aaron Clark, Richie Peters, Sam Poole, Luke Schouler, Freddy Greenslade, Sam Weber, Sione Pulu.
Taieri: Kori Rupene, Michael Collins, Kieran Moffat, Ben Nowell, Shannon Young, Hayden Parker, Kurt Hammer, Charlie O'Connell (captain), Willis Scott, Brodie Hume, Kurt Webster, Mike McKee, Brett Anderson, Henry Parker, Nick McLennan. Reserves: Will Hurst, Dean Collins, Matt Davidson, Ben Kerr, Nick Roulston, Kurt Schrader, Tom Davie.
