GOLFING legend Jack Nicklaus was once quoted about big match nerves - "concentration is a fine antidote to anxiety".
If the mantra holds true, then Steelform Wanganui will hope their entire lineup which will be guided by a teenager in his first major representative match running a cutter has eyes for nothing but the 100m by 70m maize of green at Cooks Gardens tomorrow against West Coast.
Both teams are now in do-or-die mode to earn a Meads Cup semifinal spot, contending with fifth-placed Buller facing Mid Canterbury at home, and after making then remaking plans with his assistant coaches at least twice a day all week, coach Karl Hoskin has no more cards left to play.
It was planned to be a light training last night to let each player use whatever internal monologue they prefer to get ready for Saturday, rather than being swamped by the pressure of not being the first Wanganui team to miss the Meads Cup playoffs in the eight years of the Pink Batts Heartland Championship.
"For a number of them it's a funny situation to be in. We either dig ourselves out or we go down the tube," said Hoskin.