Top season points scorer Nick Harding sacrificed a chance at the MVP award last weekend to be completely ready for this weekend's semifinal with Ruapehu
Four teams, two towns 154km apart, and one sudden death chance at going to Cooks Gardens next week.
Whether vaccinating ewes on a stormy Taihape slope, getting out on the farm of South Taranaki's windy plains, grinding away in an Ohakune workshop or driving out on patrol in the Whanganui region, all four Tasman Tanning Premier coaches know their own equations as they clear the work commitments heading into tomorrow's championship semifinals.
For competition leaders Waverley Harvesting Border under Ross Williams and strong-finishing McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu with Andrew Evans, they can each call on plenty of veteran players with both recent and historic playoffs experience - the types to steady the nerves.
Meanwhile, all the nervous energy can be found across on the other side of the region as Kerry Whale's PGG Wrightson/Ballance Taihape prepare to host their first ever home semifinal, against a Jason Hamlin-coached Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist team with plenty of young players in their first taste of the big time.
Whale made alterations this week with the usual Thursday-night post-training BBQ moved back to Tuesday, and a no-drinking rule in effect.
"It's all good, a great run on Tuesday," he said.
"The boys have gone dry, it's hurting a few people, [prop] Ritchie Iorns in particular."
Making subtle positional changes was key during an stuttering second round of games for Taihape after their initial nine-match winning streak.
Re-arranging the backline outside of first-five Tom Wells with Luke Whale in a second-five to partner Cyrus Paringatai, while Jaye Flaws moves back to the wing, is a new structure from the Spriggens Park game on June 11 when Marist upended Taihape 20-17.
"We're different from when we played these team's previously, so we're trying to change, making sure people can't work us out," said Whale.
Captain Tremaine Gilbert's injured hand is now back to full strength, just in time as he will need to be in form with Marist's season MVP winner Ryan Gill looking to shut down his midfield bursts.
Ultimately, Zeus's thunderbolts could have a big bearing on the game as storms are a possibility for two teams who like to keep the ball in hand.
"That's going to make it an interesting dynamic but there will be bigger factors than the weather," said Whale.
"It's about who wants it more."
"We're trying to make it into a bit of a festival weekend. We're printing match programmes, which we've never done before.
"The club's rallied around to make it special."
Hamlin understands the prospect of the special occasion getting to his players - his task at training this week has been to settle nerves, while explaining to the youngsters in the squad that they will have to lift just to maintain regular standards.
Whale made sure to pick Utiku Old Boys coach Matt Gilbert's brain about Marist's form at Memorial Park last Saturday, but Hamlin is well aware the pace and the feel of the game will be much different tomorrow at the same ground.
"Our work-on's is doing what we do and doing what we train," he said.
"We're trying to keep at that level, but still get excited because it's a semifinal. It's finding that balance."
"I'm lucky in regards to Cameron Crowley's played a few of these matches.
"Steelie Koro, Simon Dibben...Ryan Gill's played for championships.
"They can help the young guys. Before you know it, you're hands are on your knees and 40 minutes have gone."
Back across the ranges and up State Highway 3, the favourite tag does not sit easy with Williams, but his team have the statistics to be honest without bragging.
Scoring 111 tries in a 719 point haul over 13 victories in 14 games does not lie.
"At the end of the day, we've played good rugby all year. These boys have been there before, they know what it takes," said Williams.
"Ruapehu - they've got momentum, they'll come home strong."
Even a wet and windy day which could negate Border's instinct to chance their arm can be worked around with intelligent kicking and forward grind.
"I back our boys to make the right decisions. Definitely the kicking game's going to be important," Williams said.
With that in mind, there was no regret for resting fullback Nick Harding last weekend, which opened the door for Gill to go and win the MVP season points competition in the last game with Utiku.
Williams agreed Harding would gladly trade an MVP award for a Premier championship.
"It wasn't a factor, if it was, he could have played. That sort of stuff doesn't motivate the boys - same as Lindsay [Horrocks] last year, Fraser [Middleton] the year before that."
While the season record of 27 tries may be just beyond Border's lightning centre Kaveni Dabenaise, he has had a smaller eight-team competition and therefore less games to reach his prolific 20 touchdowns.
Another reason for giving Harding's hamstring maximum recovery time is the importance of goal kicking tomorrow, as Ruapehu's former Highlander Craig Clare had the ball on a string with nine conversions last weekend.
And while Ruapehu have had another disjointed campaign with a slow start, their five-game winning streak to make the finals sends a clear message they can still show up in the big games.
"[We will] front, up front, it will be about the attitude," said Evans.
"We're battered and bruised, would be a fair assumption. There's always someone ringing up with something [injury report]."
The return of Sid Henare strengthens the midfield alongside the in-form Troy Brown, meaning referee Glenn Collins need only jog to the scrum to give Ruapehu messages as Roman Tutauha moves back into the front row to join Kim McNaught and create the rare situation of co-captains packing down together.
These players, alongside the 'old firm' of Evans and Peter Rowe, know they have to get the best they can out of what they've got.
"We've got youth in the team as well, it's about half and half," said Evans.
"We've been expected to win one year, and got knocked out in the semifinals by Marist, so the boys have experienced that.
"Border, to their credit, they do get a lot of supporters there - it's good to see in a country club."
Even leaving the Senior team back in Ohakune to play their Consolation final with Marist Buffalo's should not be too big a detriment.
"We've just about back to a full side without our Seniors anyway, got bench depth," Evans said.
Those supporters who choose to travel will be welcomed at Dallison Park as Border is putting on a luncheon for their guests, with both Border and Taihape planning a big day of country rugby.