Aotea coach Peka Hauiti admitted it was a big call to give up home-ground advantage for Hawke's Bay's division two rugby final on Thursday night.
His team will take on Porangahau in the final which will be played as a curtainraiser to the Magpies' Ranfurly Shield defence against Mid Canterbury
at Napier's McLean Park. Aotea have only lost once at Dannevirke's Rugby Park this season, the Town-Country division final against Taradale.
"We discussed it as we thought it might be a bit tough for our supporters to pay Ranfurly Shield prices. But then we decided it would be a privilege to play on McLean Park," Hauiti said.
His troops will wait until after the final before discussing the possibility of playing in the promotion-relegation game.
Aotea keys will be ex-Bay fullback Jearrad Stephenson, No8 Tobias Allison, openside flanker Isaac Scott, the midfield combo of Tama Petera and Zac Wadley-Te Ture and three of the four Hauiti brothers - hooker Raniera, prop Tiwai and flanker Eru.
