If you think Oamaru is a foreboding, inhospitable place for Steelform Wanganui to try to salvage 2014 by claiming the Lochore Cup on Sunday, it is pleasing to note the hosts are playing fair.
Trying to overcome a record of only one win in seven trips to North Otago's Whitestone Contracting Stadium fortress since 2002, (a 0-3 record in their South Island matches this year) Wanganui will have their most relaxed game-day buildup for an inter-island fixture after they fly in to Dunedin then bus to the Waitaki District on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Jason Caskey said they have been granted a later 12.30pm hotel checkout time before the 2.35pm match.
This means they will have a leisurely team breakfast on Sunday, followed by a light jog at the ground, then return for a pre-match meal before the players can relax in their rooms to mentally prepare.
"Every other trip, we've been [waiting] in an RSA room or something, with guys lying on the floor," said Caskey.
"You can just tell when they turn up for the game if they're not in the right [head] space."
Wanganui will name the team today, with few changes expected from the side that dominated last weekend's Lochore semifinal against King Country.
After a tough campaign, the latter half which has seen the team beset with injuries, Tuesday's session was a light jog, which allowed injured centre Tevita Taufui to take part. "He's one of the ones we're definitely hoping will be okay to go," Caskey said. "A lot of them are hanging in there by the skin of their teeth with injuries."
While he came out of his first hit up favouring his knee last weekend, returning Taranaki powerhouse Bryn Hudson got through 30 minutes work and should be available for more impact on the North Otago team he starred against in Wanganui's 20-15 win at Cooks Gardens on September 6.
North Otago are disappointed to have slipped from being Meads to Lochore Cup finalists in 12 months, but still have some game breakers.
After he had a big hand in North Otago's comeback at Cooks Gardens, Ben Palmer played his way from the bench into the starting No10 jumper and landed some key kicks last week in their 16-12 derby win over South Canterbury.
Schoolboy wing Matthew Vocea scored the only try of the game, while captain Josh Clark has earned his way into the NZ Heartland XV loose forwards, setting up a good battle with his future teammates Peter Rowe, Lasa Ulukuta and Cole Baldwin.
Given the heavy task of winning a long-distance away match, Caskey said the team had not already "played their final" against King Country.
"We've been disappointed it's taken so long to turn up this season, we're not going to let it slip now."
A party of around 50 will travel on the chartered flight for the match with the WRFU offering places to sponsors and supporters to travel with the team.