Sam Sturgess sees similarities in what North Otago is doing and what his Dunedin club side, Varsity A, did earlier in the year.
The Old Golds hooker will start today's Lochore Cup final against King Country in Te Kuiti, and believes his team is clicking at just the right time.
''We've just really hit our straps late in the season,'' he said.
''Probably a bit like Varsity A, I think we all just understand each other. I'm pretty confident, really.''
Despite qualifying fourth for the Dunedin premier competition semifinals in July - 17 points behind top qualifier Harbour - Varsity got hot at just the right time to win the competition in July.
It was a similar story for the Old Golds, who just squeaked into the Lochore Cup semifinals with four wins from their eight matches, in the Heartland competition.
But North Otago has saved some of its best rugby for last, winning three of its last four matches, including last week's 57-12 demolition of Horowhenua-Kapiti in their semifinal in Levin.
Only King Country stands in its way, a team that has won three straight games but finished only one competition point ahead of North Otago during the regular season.
Sturgess (24), who is originally from Manawatu, was a member of Otago's ITM Cup wider training squad this year, and plays for the Olds Golds as a local player.
He debuted off the bench for Otago against Wellington in September, a match the blue and golds snatched after scoring two converted tries in the last three minutes at the Cake Tin.
''It was so special,'' Sturgess said.
''Especially to come away with the win in the style that we did.''
Sturgess, who attended Waitaki Boys' High School in years 12 and 13, lives in Oamaru and works for Farmlands as a technical field officer.
As well as training with North Otago three times a week, he could be called upon to train with Otago by coach Cory Brown at any stage.
He was not required much this season, but is hoping another good year for Varsity A next year will see him back in the Otago mix.
It will be his sixth season travelling to Dunedin to play for the club side, which will be chasing a second consecutive title come winter.
''It worked out really well this year, so I'd be open to coming back to North Otago next year,'' Sturgess said.
''It depends what happens with North Otago and Otago. I'll play it by ear and hope to have a good season for University A first up.''
