"We have a giggle about it after each game and each training," the St Joseph's Maori Girls' College Year 12 student said with a laugh.
A former Hawke's Bay under-13 and under-11 hockey representative, Avelon has played in her school's 1st XI for the past four years. She has had to put rep hockey aside because of her academic pursuits and competes in her school waka ama and the Te Rau Oranga o Ngati Kahungunu Waka Ama Club.
Avelon produced some gutsy defensive work in Clive's semifinal win against Hastings Rugby and Sports last weekend and knows similar defence will be a must if Clive is going to compete with the defending champions today.
Her mother said it's a change for Clive to be going into the final as the underdogs. "In the past all the pressure has been on us because we were the titleholders and favourites. This year it has been quite relaxing."
"In fact we've been a bit cheeky ... two wins all season including the must-win semifinal and we're in the final. We didn't play in the Hawke's Bay-Manawatu combined competition and that helped ... we were fresh and raring to go when this second round began."
As is the norm for Lisa, she will arrive at today's final having already done a morning's work as a postie. Once the rugby season ends she will have another season of league for Tamatea and in the summer she plays touch for Outkasts.
Lisa is likely to be back for another season with Clive next year."I think these young ones will benefit from having another season with us oldies."
While Napier Technical are the favourites the host team's coach, Arthur Brown, has mixed confidence levels. "I'm never confident against Clive ... they can always come up with something special. I'm confident in what we can do but if it's enough ... we'll have to wait and see," Brown said.
"Clive have some old heads in the right places as well as some fresh new players."
Clive coach Cheryl Heremia is in her eighth year with the team. Of the seven finals she has coached her side in, they have won six of them.
Can she add a seventh title to her coaching CV? "If we hang on to our ball we've got a chance," she said.
Napier Technical: Michaela Baker; Nessa Sharland, Davina Winiata, Jess Bennett, Alarna McKie, Sylvia Bockman, Gemma Woods, Chanel Huddleston, Kaylah Clarke-Winiata, Turina Paku, Sam Gerretzen, Stacey Loye, Natalie Cotton, Cara Hall, Missy Ioane.
Substitutes: Forne Burkin, Cameila Kingi, Kelly Bray, Brooke McKelvie, Ashley Baker, Caitlyn Burkin.
Clive: Holly McDonald, Avelon Ropiha, Turu McIlroy, Deidre Hakopa, Talon Robinson, Te Maari MacGregor, Lisa Ropiha, Jasmine Tihema, Sarah Clapperton, Joy McKenzie, Kara Huata, Leanne Makea, Vicki Peni, Jess Carter, Sharlena Maui.
Substitutes: Nina Houston, Tina Wihapi, Anthea Toheriri, Shantelle Moke, Jacinda Pohatu, Huia Johnson, Chrissy Kemp.