However, within the few minutes it took for a Hawke's Bay Today photographer to get a shot of the three, they went down to two.
"It's gone really well," said Hurricanes match manager Sam Kershaw.
For Ms Kershaw, the match means a return to the Bay from her usual Wellington base - she is from Havelock North.
As commercial manager Jay Campbell predicted last week, there had been a run on tickets to the clash between two high-flying sides eyeing the Super 15 title.
Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni said it was exciting to be able to take a game "of this magnitude" to Napier.
"There's a lot riding on this game for both teams - it will go a long way to determining the placings for the final six."
He said the Hurricanes squad were delighted to hear ticket sales had been strong and valued the support of their Hawke's Bay fans.
"The team are looking forward to coming up there and getting out and about in the community," Mr Te Puni said.
" They've got plenty planned which will hopefully give everyone in Hawke's Bay an opportunity to see them."
The Hurricanes are due to fly into the Bay this afternoon and are expected to head straight out to Tremain Field, at Park Island off Clyde Jeffrey Drive, for a training session from 3.30pm.
The public are invited to head out and see the championship's leading team go through their paces, with fans being given the opportunity to get photos and autographs before the squad leave the park about 5.30pm.
While the final schedule was still being prepared yesterday players were planning visits to schools, the children's ward at Hawke's Bay Hospital and a Ripper Rugby Tournament on Friday.
In terms of weather the timing looks good, with Friday's forecast for clear skies, with a high of 14C and an overnight low of 5C.
The match, the eighth the Hurricanes will have played in Napier since 1996, kicks off at 7.35pm.
-Ground entry tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children.
