It was legendary NFL commissioner Bert Bell who coined the statement, "On any given Sunday, any team can beat any other team."
Slightly alter that phrase to "Saturday" and it would be a fair reflection of a much more competitive Tasman Tanning Premier competition in 2014 in which the top two teams, Integrity Motors Pirates and McCarthy's Ruapehu, have won their games, but often by smaller margins, while also having noteworthy stumbles along the way.
Likewise, in a season that started earlier and in which sides have struggled with injury, along with lot more parity when it comes to finding dominant or healthy first fives, even the lower-ranked teams rate their chances in random matches.
Having lost the services of Manawatu import Taukiri Manawatu this season and struggling to fill his absence at No10, Speirs Food Marton have not been the outside contenders for a top-four finish as they were in 2013.
However, it is club day at Marton Park tomorrow and having had a bye week to rest up, assistant coach Justin Lock is confident of a strong showing against a Pirates team that has shown a bad habit of complacency coming off big wins, while still feeling the effects of the hand injury to standout Lasa Ulukuta.
Many team coaches have mentioned not enjoying facing Pirates backlash after they've had a loss or near-run victory, but Lock said either factor wouldn't worry his team. "I believe it's a competition where if you play well, you can get the points. Just look at some of the games gone by."
While Marton picked up only one victory in round one, they finished within seven points of Ruapehu, Harvey Round Motors Ratana, and Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau, while also avenging their loss to Marist with a win on May 24.
What has been a struggle is getting settled at first five with promising halfback Tyler Rogers-Holden, big midfielder Soonalote Tauailoto, winger Jacob Karaynidis and player-coach Cornel Mason all having a turn at running the cutter.
Mundsan Ah Chong has been the recent go-to choice and Lock said that was likely to continue tomorrow.
"It's definitely been a bit of a problem issue for us. We've tried 4-5 guys and Mundsan's been playing pretty well there, to be honest.
"Tyler plays there well, but we prefer him at halfback."
With three wins in their last four games, including scalping Pirates and Taihape at home, Kaierau has become such an embodiment of Bert Bell's creed that coach Keith Savell repeated it without prompting.
"Anyone on their day can topple anyone. Makes it pretty interesting."
They travel to Waverley to meet a somewhat shaky Waverley Harvesting Border, who have missed Mark Davis at No10 this season and are now trying veteran fullback Fraser Middleton in the role.
However, Kaierau have lost their inspirational No8 Darren Munro for this week after a head knock against Taihape.
They have also been stop-gap with their backline depending on player availability, with Wanganui representative player Areta Lama spending most of his time at second five, with the likes of utility back Jordan Farrington and young Terau Wirihana taking the No10 jumper.
"This week is no different. There's always a few out," said Savell. "We'll get up there and take it positively.
"[Border]'s always a little bit tougher at home. Home advantage is always worth something."
Kaierau cost themselves dearly in their 34-23 loss at home to the South Taranaki club in round one, where an eagerness to spread play was not coupled with an ability to control it.
"Ball retention was pretty ordinary last time, and tackling, and we've improved both of those since then," said Savell.
Last year they lost the Waverley clash 28-8, however that was under lights as the annual Friday night match before the start of duck shooting season.
In the other games tomorrow, Ratana will want to keep their top-four hopes alive against Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist, while Ruapehu will defend their newly regained Grand Hotel Challenge Shield against Utiku.