KEY POINTS:
The provincial season has passed in a blur for a young wing in the fast lane as he's ridden Hawkes Bay's stunning surge to the semifinals.
Nothing prepared 18-year-old Zac Guildford for what has unfolded as Hawkes Bay have ticked off one mission statement after another to book
a playoff against Auckland tomorrow.
"I never expected to be here, I don't think any of us did," he said as Hawkes Bay prepared for a semifinal only the most deluded fan would have predicted at the start of the winter.
"I keep pinching myself really, it just feels unreal."
As well it might. The Taradale club product was shocked just to be promoted to the province's top team by coach Peter Russell for a pre-season match against Poverty Bay in May.
He's barely had time to look back since then, as the 2006 New Zealand under-19 representative has made the left wing berth his own, a significant turn of speed and raw enthusiasm rewarding him with seven tries in 11 Cup outings.
Guildford has offered Hawkes Bay a cutting edge out wide, and allied to the punch provided by experienced second five-eighths Jason Shoemark, their back division has ensured the hard work of their combative forwards has not gone to waste.
Now Guildford is preparing for the toughest test of his fledgling career, marking Auckland's muscled ball of energy David Smith at Eden Park.
A hustle and bustle type with blistering pace, Smith has yet to really cut loose at this level but Guildford knows he will have his hands full containing the Aucklander.
"It will be interesting because I really admire the way he plays. He has a lot of flair, it's awesome what he can do."
Guildford knows he will be kept busy limiting Smith's options, but can think of nothing more he'd rather be doing this weekend.
Playing the game certainly has more appeal at the moment than part-time work as a picture framer which he mixed with polytechnic business studies before rugby forced both on to the backburner this year.
Guildford has overcome an ankle injury which he aggravated against Waikato last weekend, restricted him to 50 minutes in the exciting come-from-behind 38-35 quarter-final win at Napier's McLean Park.
He still had time to cross for one of his side's four tries and wants nothing more than to add to his tally on Saturday.
He expects the nerves to kick in, just like they did before his Cup debut against Southland in July.
He scored a try though, and Hawkes Bay signalled their season's intent with an upset 41-13 result.
"I was really nervous then but I had to turn those nerves into a feeling of excitement. I did that then and I'll look to do it again on Saturday."
Guildford has played just once previously at Eden Park, for a Hurricanes schools team last year.
Barely 1000 spectators spread themselves about the vast venue on that occasion, and Guildford knows the crowd size, atmosphere and noise levels will all lift considerably come tomorrow.
And so they should. A finals spot is at stake.
- NZPA