Anthony Bell
We have arrived - it's Cup day.
Since 1913, the Charity Cup playoff has stirred tribal emotions at Wembley Park and proves a fitting climax to the 2017 season for two travelling teams who raised the bar this year beyond even their own realistic predictions.
The Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts hold the Cup as the descendants of the Wanderers team who ended Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic's winter of misery in the semifinal format of last year, winning 3-1, before going on to claim the final against clubmates City Hammers.
It was the springboard for City to lift back up from local league and recommit themselves to a Central Football season under coach Kelvin Francis - rejoining the Horizons Premiership and all-but winning the title, being denied via a solitary point on the last weekend by the Hokowhitu FC Rangers.
In the clubrooms next door, after a Lotto Federation League to forget, Athletic knew they needed change and hired guru Jason King to run both the 1sts and GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves.
The improvement was immediate as Athletic stayed at the top end of the table for the entirety of the competition, with only a late season slump in their last two matches seeing them finish third behind rivals New Plymouth Rangers and champions AFC Havelock North.
As well as the prize of the Cup, one team can avoid having to lower their colours in front of the home fans.
City may have been beaten at Wembley this year but they have not lost on the No1 ground since 2015, while Athletic won all of their League matches at Wembley this season, although perhaps ominously they did lose their other one-off match at home - the cruel extra time defeat to Rangers in the Chatham Cup knockout.
Francis and King are mates - they have conversed regularly throughout the season to share information on players, pitches and referees, while King was marking out the freshly-mowed "carpet" No1 yesterday because Francis had a prior commitment.
"I didn't bother putting out penalty spots. I don't think my nerves could take [a shoot out]," he said.
"Somebody's [home] record is going to be tarred.
"To be able to lift the cup would be a pat on the back for each of the teams."
And both of them are in agreement they would like to put on a show if possible.
"There's plenty of banter floating around in recent weeks," said King.
"We want something that shows Whanganui what football is, not something that puts a stone down.
"If you look back 3-4 seasons ago, there was something like 13 cards, 3-4 players sent off."
Francis also acknowledged some derby matches of the past were "atrocious".
However, there are enough acquaintances, drinking buddies and genuine friendships between the squads now to suggest that while the match will lose none of its intensity, the style of play could be more free-flowing.
"We know we are also the underdog, they're the team playing the higher league," said Francis.
"We will let how we play take care of the situation.
"They've had players away at tournament week and we'll see how that wears on them."
After having a spare Saturday to rest while nursing the niggling injuries, City went back to a double training session this week, with only Joshua Ngapeka likely ruled out due to illness.
King has stayed in touch with his five secondary school players who have been away for tournament week, and was hoping that whatever shape they were in when they got back, they will give their hearts for one final 90 minutes.
"The players understand what the Cup's all about."
There will be key matchups across the park, with the chance to see City's Anthony Bell (19 goals) and Athletic's Ryan Holden (17) on the same pitch at the same time being a tasty morsel.
Look for City's other stalwarts like Cameron Hussey, Dan Alpin, Kyle Graham-Luke and Latham Berry to make their mark.
Athletic's hopes rest on the likes of Scott Burney, Symon King, Jude Hiri and Quinn Mailman.
Kickoff is 2.30pm.
The curtain raiser game will be the final of the Charity Plate competition, after the 40-minute semifinals this morning.
The Athletic Reserves meet clubmates Athletic Weekenders in one game, while the City Hammers take on Marist Celtic in the other.