Masterton is a key venue in the fourth round of Heartland rugby qualifying on Saturday, with a fired-up Wairarapa-Bush aiming to bushwhack Meads Cup favourites Wanganui.
Since upsetting Wanganui 16-14 in the inaugural Meads Cup final at Cooks Gardens in 2006, Wairarapa-Bush have meandered along with a fourth place the next season, and then finishing with rankings of 9-6-7-10.
This year, however, Wairarapa are away to a great start with championship wins over South Canterbury 32-21, Poverty Bay 48-21 and West Coast 12-8 in wet Greymouth last weekend, thanks to four penalty goals from Hutt Valley Marist import utility back Glen Walters. He is the top Heartland points scorer this winter with 52 points.
Wanganui are also unbeaten after success over Mid Canterbury 24-23, Horowhenua-Kapiti 28-10 and Poverty Bay 42-3 last Saturday.
The two sides lead qualifying with 13 points each, though Wanganui hold a plus-58 to plus-42 points lead at the top.