They have one win apiece against each other this season so Te Puna and Te Puke are heading into this weekend's Baywide final as equals.
After five months of club rugby action from across the Bay of Plenty, the Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 trophy decider tomorrow pits first-time finalists Te Puna taking against Te Puke - with both ready for what will undoubtedly be a battle of quality club rugby.
Te Puke Sports will host Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 round one winners Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium this Saturday.
Te Puna head coach Aidan Kuka said making the finals was not just a major milestone for his club - it was a feat their community was proud of and excited about.
He said the club had spent many years developing young players, which had created a strong team culture, and a team that gelled together seamlessly. After four years of knocking on the door of a final, Te Puna were ready, he said.
"We're a club that's been building for a while," Kuka said.
"Finally, this year we broke through," he said.
Although it was their first time to a final, Kuka said: "We may be inexperienced in that department, but we're confident.
"We've played Te Puke twice, they've beaten us once and we've beaten them once.
"We've got a bit of momentum behind us and so have Te Puke to be fair.
He knows the fight for the title will be no easy task, describing Te Puke as a "strong" and "very dangerous side", but his players know they each have a role to play.
"I know the boys are ready to play a final.
"We just have to be mentally up for this game, we've got to be very focused. They're going to be hard to beat.
"We want to do it for our community and families and each other. Everyone is excited to be there."
Te Puke Sports head coach Matt Wallis will take confidence into tomorrow's final after last weekend's 32-6 win over Mount Maunganui Sports, with plans to defend to the best of their ability in order to overcome Te Puna.
"Te Puna are strong across the whole bar – good scrums, good lineouts, backs play well, they kick well too. To combat it we're going to hold on to the ball, deny them possession, just defend well without giving too much away," Wallis said.
"Our key focus for this game will be on us as a team, not getting overawed by the occasion, and control what we can control."
Both clubs are also in the running for the Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 Development title, playing in the finals on Te Puke's home ground at 12.30pm.
Wallis said having two teams in the Baywide Club finals is a "pretty good feeling, to have two teams reach the final out of your club, it's awesome".
Te Puna are playing Ruatoki in the Senior Reserves final at Tuhoe Park at 12.30pm.
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Finals Draw:
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 Final:
Te Puke Sports v Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium
Premier Kick-off: 2.45pm
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 1 Development Final:
Te Puke Sports v Te Puna at Murray Salt Stadium
Development Kick-off: 12.30pm
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 2 Final:
Te Teko v Rangiuru at Dunderdale Park
Premier Kick-off: 2.45pm
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Premier 2 Development Final:
Ngongotaha v Opotiki at Ngongotaha Domain
Development Kick-off: 1pm
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Division 1 Final:
Ruatoki v Kahukura at Tuhoe Park
Premier Kick-off: 2.45pm
Senior Reserves Final:
Ruatoki v Te Puna at Tuhoe Park
Kick-off: 12.30pm
Extra time protocol for semifinals and finals:
If the games are tied after normal time, then the following rules apply.
1 Two 10-minute spells of extra time. If still even ...
2 Team scoring most tries in extra time. If still even ...
3 Team kicking the most conversions of tries scored in extra time. If still even ...
4 Team scoring first try in extra time. If still even 5 toss of coin by referee