Meanwhile, Otangarei have had to play each week of the playoffs to qualify for the big show - Takahiwai automatically qualified after beating Moerewa 38-26 in the semi-finals.
Otangarei finished the regular season third after dropping just three games all year.
They beat Portland in the semi-final 44-20, then followed it up with a tense 22-20 win over Moerewa.
They haven't been found lacking with or without the ball very often.
They ranked third in attack (434 at 36 per game), defence (246 at 20 per game) and points differential (+188).
Takahiwai won both their encounters during the regular season in contrasting fashion.
They shut out Otangarei in a 28-0 victory in round five, but were pushed to the brink in round 12 when they snuck home 16-14.
Otangarei, however, will be backing themselves to beat Takahiwai.
They knocked off second-placed Moerewa twice during the season and were not far off in their last contest with the co-finalists.
Both sides have leaders on both try and points-scoring ladders.
Second rower Shane Herbert-Porter (14) and wing Dominic Ormsby (13) gave Otangarei the top two spots on the try-scoring ladder.
Takahiwai fullback Hori Tuhoro rounds off the top five after crossing the line 12 times during the season.
Nicolas Poutuma has given Takahiwai a boost as the runaway points-scoring leader with 104 points.
Otangarei's Ormsby (76) and hooker Samuel Henry (58) take second and fifth place on the leaderboard respectively.
The game at Toll Stadium kicks off at 2:30pm on Sunday.
Marist and Moerewa contend for the Sam McKendry 18s final for the curtain-raiser, starting at 12:45pm. Gate entry costs $5 for adults or a gold coin for anyone under 12.
