More than six years — 2226 days to be exact — have passed since North Otago last beat South Canterbury in the Heartland Championship.
The Green and Blacks have won six on the trot since 2019.
Barnstorming Old Golds midfielder Tini Feke is 0-4 against the northern rivals since making his debut in 2020 but thinks this year’s team has what it takes to end the drought.
"I think the boys are ready.
"Playing against South Canterbury is always tough, always a physical game, but we still we believe we can do this."
Their attack has been red hot this season, averaging 40 points per game.
That number jumps to 47 per game in their past four games — which were all wins.
Feke credited those on his inside with driving the team around paddock.
"Our first five and our halfback is really quick, they always push the game really quick and have help from the fullback to organise where the space is.
"We just like to play with speed.
"Our forwards, our big boys do the hard work and leave us to finish."
The drawback from their attacking flair is the team is also conceding 35 points per game which could prove to be an Achilles’ heel.
Today’s clash in Oamaru is doubly important as South Canterbury and North Otago sit second and third respectively on the ladder.
A win for either team would put them in good stead to qualify for the Meads Cup semifinals.
There are just six North Otago survivors from their last victory against South Canterbury.
Kelepi Funaki, Hayden Tisdall and Cameron Rowland all came off the bench while Lachlan Kingan, Jake Greenslade and current assistant coach Ralph Darling started in the 26-20 win in 2019.
Coach Luke Herden has made just two changes to the starting XV as Zingari-Richmond prop Abraham Lauaki comes in as a loan player to start at tighthead in his Old Golds debut.
Try-scoring machine Hopoate Finau has been elevated from the bench to start on the right wing.
Halfback Seru Cavuilati and midfielder Posiano Kamoto come into the the squad and will start from the pine.
Competition front-runners Mid Canterbury travel north to play Poverty Bay, Horowhenua-Kapiti hosts Wairarapa Bush, East Coast is away to Buller, King Country plays Whanganui and Thames Valley takes on West Coast.
Heartland Championship
Oamaru, 2.05pm
North Otago: Ben Paton, Hopoate Finau, Matia Qiolevu, Tini Feke, Ben McCarthy, Kenta Iemura, Kippei Taninaka, Junior Fakatoufifita, Savenaca Rabaka, Toni Taufa, Mitch Morton, Anthony Docherty, Abraham Lauaki, Hayden Tisdall, Kelepi Funaki. Reserves: Cameron Rowland, Jake Greenslade, Lisivani Tuifua, Asaeli Ngahe, Epineri Logavatu, Seru Cavuilati, Lachlan Kingan, Posiano Kamoto.
South Canterbury: Dan Patterson, Lisiate Folau, Clarence Moli, Paula Fifita, Sireli Masi, Brayden Dew, William Wright, Finlay Joyce, Ben Kerr, Solomone Lavaka, Jack Ruske, Anthony Amato, Jack Pani, Conor Anderson, Anuanu Ohai. Reserves: Malakai Uasi, Keegan Gray, Taufa Hala’ufia, Tangi Savelio, Fletcher Joyce, Jimmy Robertson, Zac Saunders, Sireli Buliruarua.
