Wanganui's Campbell Hart will play either lock or flanker tomorrow as competition for a starting lineup spot in the squad is red hot.
The biggest competition Steelform Wanganui may have tomorrow in their final Mitre 10 Heartland competition round robin game with Horowhenua Kapiti is against each other with starting lineup positions at an absolute premium.
Blessed with so many in-form players who ably covered injury gaps over the past seven matches, while even using a small rotation policy in certain games, coach Jason Caskey now has a squad at full strength with all 24 players bracketed to fill the 22 spots at Cooks Gardens.
Having played most of the competition at lock with Sam Madams out injured, Campbell Hart's versatility as another loose forward was again under consideration as he competes for the No4 jersey as well as with Bryn Hudson for blindside flanker.
There's no guarantee of even getting the consolation of the bench spot with Tremaine Gilbert and Ranato Tikoilosomone both up for that role.
"We haven't named the final team, going to do it tonight [Thursday]. Just trying to keep everybody involved at the moment," said Caskey yesterday.
As the coach has often stated, after three years of building the team back up by giving locals opportunity and adding talented region newcomers, now having to drop players who could be a fixture in any other Heartland team is tough, but the best position to be in as selector.
"That's what you strive to be in, that's what we've worked towards. Having that bench depth."
As well as the forwards, winger Simon Dibben could finally be ready to return from injury and is bracketed on the bench with Michael Nabuliwaqe, who despite scoring five tries, has not had the same punch out wide post his ankle-injury, especially compared to his outstanding 2015 season.
"Michael's one of those funny buggers where they can be average and go from that, to outstanding," Caskey said.
Giving the traffic jam around the loose forwards, Caskey may also consider giving some rest time to a player like Irishman Gavin Thornbury, who has helped carry the pack all season, including several 80 minute efforts, and would not want any more wear and tear going into the Meads Cup semifinals.
By its very nature as a 12-team competition with eight rounds, the final Saturday of the Heartland competiton's regular season again resembles a virtual quarterfinal day with nine sides in the running for the Meads or Lochore Cup playoffs or both.
The official Heartland website has even done a comparison of scenarios for every team - showing where they could finish based on winning tomorrow and the results of other games.
With seven straight wins and a guaranteed home semifinal, Wanganui is slightly above that rat race, but with Horowhenua Kapiti trying to emulate their 2014 effort and lift the Bruce Steel Memorial Cup at Cooks Gardens, Caskey insists no-one will be just going through the motions.
"Not at all, no chance of that.
"They're a very capable side."
There is also the prospect of history in becoming the third team to go through Heartland's regular season unbeaten - following the excellent 2008 Wanganui squad who won the Meads Cup, and the 2014 Buller side who stumbled in the final against Mid Canterbury.
Victory tomorrow would also ensure Wanganui get the final at Cooks Gardens should they make it that far, keeping the game away from Timaru with South Canterbury still hovering two points behind.
Caskey acknowledges that if they want to retain the Meads Cup, it has to be an unbeaten season from this point.
"It's been a bit of a tricky one. I still feel we've still got plenty in the tank.
"At our best, we've been about 85-90 per cent."
Currently outside the Lochore Cup group in ninth spot, Horowhenua Kapiti are desperate to salvage an underwhelming season.
Their wins over Thames Valley (34-30) and West Coast (52-22), plus a 36-36 draw with North Otago, have been punctuated with defeats to Wairarapa Bush (32-22), Mid Canterbury (42-26), King Country (42-18) and South Canterbury (36-24).
Kickoff is 2.30pm.
Wanganui
1. Tietie Tuimauga; 2. Roman Tutauha; 3. Viki Tofa; 4. Campbell Hart/Sam Madams; 5. Gavin Thornbury; 6. Bryn Hudson/Campbell Hart; 7. Peter Rowe; 8. Malaki Volau; 9. Lindsay Horrocks; 10. Craig Clare; 11. Samu Kubunavanua; 12. Kameli Kuruyabaki; 13. Blake Hohaia; 14. Te Rangatira Waitokia; 15. Ace Malo.
Reserves - Forwards: 16. Cole Baldwin; 17. Hamish Mellow; 18. Sam Madams/Bryn Hudson; 19. Tremaine Gilbert/Ranato Tikoilosomone. Backs: 20. Kane Tamou; 21. Dane Whale; 22. Simon Dibben/Michael Nabuliwaqe.
Horowhenua/Kapiti
1. Raahiri Conor Johnson; 2. David McErlean; 3. Scott Cameron; 4. Ryan Shelford (c); 5. William Lander; 6. Aaron Lahmert; 7. Nathan Kendrick; 8. Tyson Maki; 9. Manahi Rees; 10. Warwick Lahmert; 11. William Paia'aua; 12. Ethan Pollock; 13. Shai Wiperi; 14. Clayton Winiata; 15. Michael Tambour.
Reserves - 16. Tyrone Rerekura; 17. Sebastian Jackson; 18. Bronson Heihei; 19. Faleulu Matua; 20. Perry Hayman; 21. Anthony Fuauli; 22. Lyric Faolua.