Shane savours the last dance

Shane Cortese with partner Nerida Lister and Norm Hewitt and Carol-Ann Hickmore.

Norm Hewitt and Shane Cortese go toe to toe tomorrow night and by all accounts - from taxi drivers to the Prime Minister herself - Cortese is up against it.

Hewitt is an All Black. Cortese did play in the 1st XV at Palmerston North Boys High School, but realises that "isn't quite the same".

Hewitt also has the "bad guy turned good" quality that New Zealanders are suckers for.

There are no rewards for those who have been good all their lives.

Cortese was good, then he became Dominic Warner on Shortland St - "the most loathed person on television" - and then transformed into Prince Charming in the Sleeping Beauty stage show in Britain.

Again, it's not quite the same.

Cortese's profile from Shortland Street might help him win votes from text-happy young female viewers, but more than half of Dancing with the Stars' audience is over 55 years, and more in tune with chunky Hewitt.

However, despite Hewitt's perfect score for his paso doble, dancing instructors say Cortese's dancing is a bit better.

Albert Snelgar, of Albert School of Dancing, said even though Cortese is the better dancer, it might not come down to that skill on the night.

"If it's a dancing competition then Shane should win. If it's a popularity competition, Norm would win.

"Shane's an actor, he's got more style. That would helps because he's used to being in front of people."

Noel Blyth, of Blyth Studio, agrees.

"I still think the actor would be a good bet to win, but it's hard to be sure. He is the greater talent. He's an actor and he can apply those skills on stage to dancing."

"New Zealand is a rugby country, though. It's a religion and thousands will vote for that."

Even Cortese knows he's on the backfoot there.

"Norm's an All Black. They are held in very high regard. That counts for a lot. I mean, I'd vote for the All Black if I was not in the show."

The pair have shared a dressing room throughout the show and have hit it off so well they actually vote for each other before each show.

Now Hewitt and Cortese are at fighting weight, albeit in different divisions.

Hewitt won't give his weight when asked, but told Michael Laws on Radio Live that he was down to 108kg and aiming for double digits.

Cortese says he is down to 67kg. When he left Shortland Street he was 82kg.

Last week they were concerted in their efforts to oust Tim Shadbolt from the show for having the temerity to be so popular.

For Cortese it was weekus horribilis, and he responded by delivering a paso doble than earned him and Nerida their first perfect 10 from a judge.

He thinks, or hopes, it will be a fairer contest now.

"Thank goodness the ship has righted itself now. This final will be an absolute fair-play final.

"It's a final where dancing is certainly going to be 60 to 70 per cent of the importance of it, rather than the 30 or 40 per cent it was before now.

"I'm sure that with a million or so watching there will be some degree of votes for personality.

"However, Norm and I have been equal right the way through and won five nights each on the points."

Shane does not intend to spare any quarter whatsoever to Norm.

"There's no point entering anything if you're just going in half-arsed for a laugh. That's not the way I've done things. You enter to do the best you can."