KEY POINTS:
With the possibility of Champions League riches in the offing, Canterbury will be praying they get a decent crack at winning Sunday's State Twenty20 cricket final in Dunedin.
With a predicted 95 per cent chance of rain in Dunedin on match day, the fate of the final hangs
in the balance.
If the University Oval is waterlogged, then Otago, as top qualifiers, will be anointed champions because no reserve day has been set for the smash and bash showpiece.
The champions could book a trip to this year's inaugural Champions League in India, an event that will carry millions of dollars in prizemoney.
New Zealand Cricket has been in negotiations with Indian officials for a berth in the tournament.
Chief executive Justin Vaughan said this week he expected official confirmation in the next 14 days.
A rained-off final would be a huge disappointment for Otago coach Mike Hesson and Canterbury coach Bob Carter, who anticipated fireworks from the two form teams of the tournament.
Hesson felt Otago have an edge with home ground advantage. As well, he can field four internationals - Brendon and Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler and Neil Broom - to Canterbury's none.
The Otago side for the final has yet to be selected but was likely to contain four of the top 10 rated Twenty20 players in the competition.
Otago took the wooden spoon last season but have effected a remarkable turnaround with players such as Aaron Redmond, English import Dimitri Mascarenhas, Aaron Redmond, Hamish Rutherford and Craig Cumming leading the way.
Nathan McCullum has smashed 14 sixes in his four Twenty20 games this season, and been instrumental in the success of his team.
"Aaron and Hamish are among the top run scorers in the competition, then we have the two McCullums and Craig so we got a very good top seven or eight," Hesson said.
"But we need to perform very well on the day because this is a format which if one guy has his day, it can be taken away from you.
"We certainly won't be taking anything for granted come Sunday and we just hope that that player (who fires) is in our side.
"Canterbury have a top order - Peter Fulton, Michael Papps, Shanan Stewart and Johann Myburgh - that is very strong and (wicketkeeper-skipper Kruger Van Wyk)...and difficult to bowl to," Hesson said, adding that they would also have to be mindful of the power of their strike bowler Shane Bond.
Carter said the number of Black Caps in the Otago side made them formidable opponents.
"We will need to bring our main game on the night."
But he felt the teams were evenly matched.
"Things can change by taking wickets, big hits can change the game and playing at University Oval, we are well aware it's a small ground.
"The last time we played there, a number of sixes were hit by both sides with Otago coming out on top that time so we hope to turn that around this time.
"We are looking forward to lapping up the atmosphere at University Oval with the students all back - it'll be a full house and it'll make for a carnival type day."
- NZPA