The champs have not exactly transformed into chumps, but the rematch between last year's NPC second-division champions, Nelson Bays, and pipped finalists Bay of Plenty has plenty riding on it for Nelson Bays.
Nelson Bays are desperate to win at their Trafalgar Park fortress tonight after losses to Hawkes Bay andWanganui.
Entering the fifth round, Nelson are seventh, although just a win away from threatening the top four.
While Bill Liddell has been hampered by injury problems - prop Blair Mirfin made his first appearance last weekend - from the outset he believes the side's stuttering form is the product of mental rather than physical frailties.
"The team is choking itself with expectation, we have to relax and enjoy ourselves a bit more," Liddell said.
"At the end of the day we've got a talented group of young men. Your ability doesn't disappear overnight but your mental capacity can be switched off with the flick of a switch. We have to get the mental part back again."
And get it back soon, as Gordon Tietjens' Bay men are eager to make up for last year's last-minute loss in the final.
"We've got a lot of motivation. We haven't had a good run there for a couple of years. Losing in extra time last year brought back a lot of memories," he said.
"Their loss to Wanganui won't help us at all. They drew with Scotland, so they've got my total respect."
Bay of Plenty are the only team across all divisions to have won all their games so far, although it has hardly been champagne rugby.
"We're always looking to play better. We played well against Hawkes Bay in wet conditions," Tietjens said.
"Last week we scored two early tries [against Thames Valley] and then we got too loose and got away from our game plan."
