"I know how I felt, four-five days after that game. They felt every bit as much, if not more."
Wanganui have improved considerably since August with their lineout plays more secure and overall discipline greatly improved, but Mid Canterbury's comeback, after being 28-16 down, is a story that has played out time and again in later games, merely with a different ending.
This vulnerability was most notable last weekend when Wanganui's 47-0 halftime lead over Wairarapa-Bush became 47-35 before they put the game away in Masterton.
However, for their hosts tomorrow there has been a similar predicament, except that unlike Wanganui nodding off in the third quarter, it is controlling the match in the final 20 minutes that has concerned the Cantabrians.
In their last home game on October 3 they squandered a 43-20 advantage to lose to Horowhenua Kapiti 47-43, while on Saturday their 39-24 lead over North Otago in Oamaru was closed to 39-36 by fulltime.
As cliched as it sounds, whoever can put together the closest to an 80-minute effort will carry the day.
"That's going to be the challenge - to be consistent," said Caskey.
"At some stage you are going to lose a little momentum, but you have to make sure when you do, it's not a major extent."
His team has no problem scoring quick points, with young gun first five Stephen Perofeta likely to play the full 80 minutes as Areta Lama makes way on the bench for utility back Troy Brown.
Caskey said Lama's injured knee has not responded as hoped this campaign, while Brown gives more midfield cover.
Where the game will be won is on defence, specifically holding out Mid Canterbury's forwards for at least 6-7 phases during the "pick-and-drive", given forcing a knock-on or penalty can easily lead to a 60-70m turnaround with Wanganui's kicking game and speed out wide.
Therefore, the spotlight will be on the loose forward trio of Hudson, captain Peter Rowe and Fraser Hammond - all of whom have had injury concerns in the past few months.
Returning after serving as waterboy in Masterton, Rowe had a light training on Tuesday and all three will have to convince Caskey they can deliver, especially with a capable Malakai Volau on the bench.
"Otherwise we can't afford to start somebody. They have to get through training tonight [Thursday].
"You say to Peter and Fraser, 'How's the knee'? They say, 'I'll be right'. No, you think you're right. That's what makes these types so important to a team.
"We've got every opportunity of going down there and picking up a win."
The forwards will be wary of containing Mid Canterbury skipper Jon Dampney after he dissected their lineout throws in August, and while hamstring problems have seen Auckland first five Murray Williams hand over the goalkicking duties to his deputy Ewan Scott and fullback Andrew Letham, the mercurial Williams will still want to run the show from start to finish.
Wanganui's squad of 22 players, plus three support staff, will fly out from Palmerston North to Christchurch at 1.30pm today, while the rest of the management group have to take another flight 90 minutes later.
History is on their side as Wanganui have never lost a Meads Cup semifinal, while there is added motivation to end Mid Canterbury's quest for the first ever three-peat in the Heartland Championship, which would tie them with Wanganui as the most successful union in the competition's 10-year history.
In the other Meads Cup playoff top qualifier South Canterbury is meeting Wairarapa-Bush in Timaru.
Kickoff is 2.30pm tomorrow.
