FINALS rugby beckons for the Bay of Plenty Steamers for the first time since 2011.
But there is still work to do for coach Clayton McMillan's men in their final two ITM Championship pool games.
Going into Sunday afternoon's clash at ASB Baypark against second-placed Wellington (27 points), the Steamersare in fourth place (19 points), three behind Otago with Southland fifth on 13.
If the table stays the same, the Steamers will be off to Napier to play leaders Hawke's Bay in one semifinal on Saturday, October 17, with Otago making the trip to the Capital to front Wellington. Clearly, there is plenty to play for and the top four could well change positions. What is certain is the Steamers need to get something out of tomorrow's game and next Sunday against Otago in Dunedin.
It is the ideal time for the Steamers to play the Wellington Lions, who face their third game in seven days. Last Sunday, they played Waikato in Hamilton, then Hawke's Bay on Wednesday at home and now the Steamers away.
They will be tired and sore while the Steamers have had a nine-day break since beating Northland last week.
It is crucial, therefore, that the home team are ahead or close going into the final 15 minutes so they can take full advantage of any Lions fatigue.
Expect nothing less, then, than a full-on physical confrontation from the Steamers, who will want to ensure the likes of superstar loose forward Ardie Savea spends most of the game face-to-face with Baypark's well-manicured turf.
McMillan coached many of the Wellington team at club level and in the winning national under-19 side last year.
"We need to take a positive mindset into this game against a quality Wellington side," he said.
"When we play with confidence and without fear we have the ability to score tries just like any other team.
"If we achieve that we will place pressure on a team that will have high expectations of a win on our home ground."
-The high performing Bay of Plenty Development team will meet unbeaten Waikato Development in the curtain-raiser from 2pm, before Bay of Plenty Baywide rippa rugby champions Te Akau Ki Papamoa take on Tauranga Primary School at 4pm.
