Let's pack the park!

Tickets for tonight's game can still be purchased. Photo / Duncan Brown

It's all go for the big match with the Magpies set to take on the Northland Taniwha at McLean Park tonight.

The ITM Cup championship semifinal is set to kick off at 7.35pm and Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said things were heating up with the ticket sales.

"We sold another 800 or so [yesterday], which is looking good. So we are heading toward a good crowd of 8000 plus.

"With the fantastic weather forecast - a mild, balmy Hawke's Bay night of no wind - it's setting itself up for a classic semifinal."

The MetService is predicting fine weather with the possibility of high cloud and a high of 21C.

Mr Campbell said it would be the last chance for rugby fans to try out the temporary Ticket Direct Stand, set up especially for the All Blacks test earlier this year.

"The Napier City Council unfortunately says we have to take it down. So it's coming down after this game.

"It's a great opportunity to get up there. It's a fantastic view and it's a great place to watch the footy."

Mr Campbell still expects a rush on ticket sales today, with prices slashed by 50 per cent. The union hopes to attract the crowd straight from work tomorrow, opening the gates at 5.30pm for the curtainraiser.

The union has fielded 10 representative squads this year and will pit the youngest of them against each other in the special feature between the Hawke's Bay Ross Shield Primary Schools team and the Hawke's Bay Under-13 team.

He said there was also some halftime entertainment with a mascot race being organised.

*Tickets can be bought from Hawke's Bay Rugby Union at McLean Park, Latham St, Napier: ticketdirect.co.nz or by phoning 0800 224 224.