Slow starts, however, have plagued the team this year.
They have regularly had to make comebacks after giving their opponents an early lead.
Tomorrow they will be keen to come hot out of the gate and maintain the pressure.
Home advantage could be key. The Bay won four of their five home encounters this season.
Poverty Bay co-coach Miah Nikora said he could see and feel the team's belief in each other to get the job done.
“We have massive belief in all the men within our squad. They've come together and been able to form a really tight culture. . . it really is a credit to them and to the rugby they've played this year to finish in the top half of the competition and earn this playoff game.”
A new-look back three will take the field in the starting 15 after last Saturday's successful trial of Andrew Tauatevalu moving to the wing and Paoraian Manuel-Harman at fullback. With Tione Hubbard on the other wing and powerhouse Penikolo Latu at centre, the Bay outside backs have the potential to be a game-changing factor.
Latu and Manuel-Harman, along with Antonio Walker-Leawere and Quade Tapsell, came into the team to cover unavailabilities.
In keeping with the team's locally-grown policy, they all have a level of connection to the region, having grown up and previously played here.
“We have a team of ordinary men — great guys who work in and play for our region,” co-coach Tom Cairns said.
“We don't have the All Blacks and Super rugby stars of a number of the other teams but we have a team who have belief and a connection,.
“The key idea, I think, is about coming down to support local on Sunday. Support your boys — the guys who you have been watching play the game for years.
“We are rich with local talent and the aim is to grow that talent and grow the local game.”
In the forwards, props Toru Noanoa and James Higgins have established themselves as starters and will need to make a statement with their power. Scrum time will be important for setting the tone of how the game will unfold.
Momentum and control in the forwards will be crucial to securing tidy ball and, with it, successful attacking opportunities.
Poverty Bay No. 8 Tamanui Hill earns his 50th cap for Poverty Bay tomorrow, having led by example as a committed player who empties the tank every weekend.
“Excitement for the occasion of my 50th is definitely present but the excitement of playing my first-ever final for the Bay is right up there with playing my 50th cap,” Hill said.
“I believe that we will lift for this game as a team, not only because it's a final but because of our culture (and) our connection.”
Poverty Bay will have to shut down Hill's opposite Seta Koroitamana — a man who has made a name for himself in the Mid Canterbury team with bruising runs as he leads the Heartland Championship try-scoring list with 10 five-pointers.
Koroitamana's presence is key to their momentum and he will need to be controlled if Poverty Bay are to be the first team to lift the Bill Osborne Taonga.
1. Toru Noanoa; 2. Shayde Skudder; 3. James Higgins; 4. Fletcher Scammell; 5. Dan Law; 6. Quade Tapsell; 7. Stefan Destounis; 8. Tamanui Hil; 9. Mario Counsell ; 10. Kelvin Smith (c); 11. Tione Hubbard; 12. Ted Walters; 13. Penikolo Latu; 14. Andrew Tauatevalu; 15. Paoraian Manuel-Harman.
Rikki Terekia, Jarryd Broughton, Keanu Taumata, George Whakatope, Ethine Reeves, Taine Aupouri, Te Peehi Fairlie.
1. Adam Williamson; 2. Callum Currell; 3. Carisbrook Toomalatai; 4. Manasa Bari ; 5. JJ Manning; 6. Shepherd Mhember; 7. Michael Hennings; 8. Seta Koroitamana; 9. Harvey Blyth; 10. George Williams; 11. Tait Chisman; 12, Tome Teekie; 13. Nick Foxley; 14. Raitube Vasurakuta; 15. Nathan McCloy.
Joel Leo, Osea Baisagale, Ashton McArthur, Osian Davies, Isireli Masiwini, Monty Nixon, Paovale Sofai.
