"That game was probably the best thing for us.
"We approach [the semifinal] like every other game, I have a firm belief in the players.
"If we focus too much on who they've got and what they do, we lose focus on what we can do.
"We love the underdog tag."
While Border were ultimately comfortable 33-5 winners in Waverley on May 29, as they were 39-10 in the season opener at Spriggens Park on April 24, Marist did have periods of ascension in both games.
They were clutch with come-from-behind victories over both Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau and McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu and then secured the historic playoff spot with their 31-15 win over Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri up the Waitotara Valley last weekend.
Scoring tries were former Steelform Whanganui prop Viki Tofa, young outside backs Cajun Teki-Botica and Ioane Hough, plus two men who have come to define Marist's spirit – inspirational captain Brad Graham and teenage sensation Rangi Kui.
The ironman Graham is the only team member to play all 800 minutes of the regular season, sharing runner-up in the Premier MVP list with Border's talented No 8 Semi Vodosese.
"If you looked for the epitome of a hard, grassroots club man, he's your man," said Hopkins.
"The way Brad plays the game as well – just tops so many areas of the game."
A regular winger in his second season after school, the gifted Kui moved into first five midway through the campaign and had Boys' Own Annual moments with match-winning kicks and tries over Kaierau and Ruapehu.
Also spearheading the youth movement were the O'Learys – Ben and Connor – who started the season with the Buffalos but had too much competitive fire not to come up to Premier.
"The O'Learys, there's a few of them, I've never met one happy to just do it for fun, or wants to come off second-best," said Hopkins.
But having seen off dozens of hot-shot opponents in his professional career, there will be no sentimentality for Marist's stories from Border's maestro Craig Clare.
Clare has the backline humming with an offence centred on winger Vereniki Tikoisolomone – in sublime form with 20 of his team's 64 tries this campaign.
In previous conversations, Border coach Cole Baldwin would discuss the little faults he wanted to fine-tune, but now, at the penultimate game to get back to Cooks Gardens to defend their Rosebowl Trophy, the confidence is justifiably showing.
"We've turned the corner – looking pretty good," Baldwin said.
"We've learned a bit over the years, we're not naive enough to think it's a formality. Nothing's ever confirmed."
After their 17-game winning run was ended by Taihape at Memorial Park, Border have worked their handful of injured players who missed that clash back into the fold.
"We're probably as strong as we can be. There's got to be a couple of decisions made, about who starts and who makes an impact off the bench," said Baldwin.
As well as Clare and Tikoisolomone, expect big games from Vodosese, flanker Angus Middleton and fullback Nick Harding, while winger Tom Symes will play his 100th Premier match.
As this will be Border's last home game of 2021 – having won 14 straight matches at Dallison Park over three seasons – a bumper crowd will be expected.
"Our community always supports us and looks after us," said Baldwin.
