Last-placed Palmerston North Marist, in the Central League, have been automatically relegated.
Greatholder is mindful Karori have marquee players such as Spaniard Leo Villa and former Thirsty Whale Hawke's Bay United Argentinian midfielder Facundo Barbero so it won't be easy for the Wanderers to push for a second side into the Central League in almost a decade.
"I know how they play so I will watch them," he said but he is torn between travelling to Wellington this Saturday or staying to watch his team lift the trophy.
Ironically Greatholder still harbours fond memories as player/coach when he led Maycenvale United to Central League honours after beating Team Taranaki in New Plymouth.
He is relieved that the Wanderers entered the ISPS Handa Chatham Cup campaign this winter which gave his team, averaging 19 years, a taste of top-tier footy despite losing 3-1 to Conroy Removals Napier City Rovers in May.
"It's enabled us to get our balance right and to learn as a group quite well. The kids have given it a go so I'm massively proud of them for having given it a go this season."
Juxtaposing it with Vale, Greatholder said the Wanderers were predominantly Bay stock and he enjoyed working with them.
"It's looking really good for Hawke's Bay football," he said after the villagers lost only one game, 1-0, away to Gisborne Thistle.
The Wanderers beat Rangers 3-1 in their previous away encounter but, to their frustration, weren't able to host the second-placed rivals and biggest threat due to inclement weather. Rangers play Wanganui Athletic away this Saturday and can lose their No2 perch if they lose.
"They haven't had the pleasure of driving all the way here to play us and that doesn't look like it'll happen now," says Greatholder, stressing the three-weekend window to squeeze in four matches will rob the league of one round.
"It's a bit unfortunate because it's tough to go over there on a six-hour travel," he says after his troops got in at 2am on Saturday before the 2.45pm kick off.
Four players were missing from the game due to work and school commitments but Greatholder said the team prepared well with rest and nutrition.
"But it's massive that we won the game," he said.
Havelock defender Campbell Whitworth opened their account, 1-0, when he pounced on a sloppy clearance from the Rangers following set-piece play to prod the ball past goalkeeper Santiago Fernandez.
The league's golden boot contender, Josh Smith, equalised, 1-1, against the run of play to find the net past Wanderers goalkeeper Shaun Peta in the 57th minute.
But the signs were ominous for the visitors when striker Ben Fox picked up a second yellow card from referee Daniel Gallo to leave the 10-men Wanderers on their toes in the 61st minute.
However, that just stung the villagers into action with a New Plymouth defender bringing down winger Jackson Ralph in the box. Bjorn Christensen scored from the spot, 2-1, to defy the odds.
Greatholder said the hosts had three of their Team Taranaki players, in Central League, drop to help out the Rangers including Fernandez.
