It's not an unfamiliar scene, although that in a sense makes it more daunting.
Tech College Old Boys find themselves in another semifinal appearance in the Manawatu League this Saturday, and as fourth qualifiers it is once again against the competition's clear favourite.
But TCOB coach Langley Atkinson says this is an "on the day" scenario in Palmerston North at 3pm on Saturday against table- toppers Massey, who he admits have probably been a goal better than the other top three teams this season.
"We just have to eliminate the little mistakes we keep making at times and getting punished for it," he said.
No more feedback has come out of his protest from last week about Massey fielding a potentially illegal player, which makes the match-up for Saturday a "definite" with the competition favourites.
"We didn't hear anything and Massey clearly ended up on top [of the table]."
TCOB defeated College 6-4 in a warm-up game on Saturday, a free-flowing match.
Atkinson said that most involved took it fairly causally, hence the high score.
"Both sides were guilty of being a bit loose."
Players were rotated regularly - TCOB's Junior Black Stick wider squad member Martin Atkinson playing about half the match as he and Callum Wilbur also had a game on Sunday for the Central NHL team in a friendly with Capital.
Atkinson said his son's hamstring is still giving him issues, which may limit his effectiveness on Saturday as making the Junior Black Stick's World Cup squad in December must take priority.
This adds to the long injury list with Kane Watkins and Brad Williamson gone, while captain Craig Ratini has family commitments in Christchurch this weekend.
Still, Atkinson likes what he has been seeing from Josh McDonnell - whose utility value has seen him moved around several positions - and he said Craig Hilbourne had picked up his game in recent weeks.
Playing alongside them at the same time will be the TCOB women, who likewise have to be realistic about their chances against High School Hockey Club.
Nevertheless, manager Ian Glenny has what he wanted a semifinal appearance in their debut season and word within the squad of 100 per cent retention of players next year.
"We know that it's a huge task [on Saturday] but everyone's keyed up about it and positive.
"You just never know on the day."
"Techno" are getting use to unpredictable scenarios as their final re-scheduled round robin game with College was interrupted at halftime in Palmerston North by Sunday afternoon's earthquake.
"We were just about to start and one of the girls looked up and said, 'look at the light stands'.
"They were flying around, I've never been on a hockey turf in an earthquake before."
College won the game 3-0, scoring two goals in the first half, although "Techno" were without the likes of Helen Currie, Ainsley Downs and Tess Meha injured.
With a number of players experimenting out of position, their predicament could have been worse if not for Melissa Hylton's move from centre half into goalkeeper.
"She had a blinder. In her younger days she was a top goalie and you could see it," said Glenny.
In other hockey news, the Wanganui teenagers in the Central Under-18 teams finished middle of the road at the National Under-18 tournament at the Gallagher Hockey Centre in Hamilton.
The Central men's squad, which included Josh Rainey, came fifth of the eight teams, with Midlands winning the title.
In the women's competition, Charlotte Dixon, Jessica Watkin, Pippa Norman and Taylor Molcsan were in the Central team that came fourth, with Auckland crowned champions.