Big turnout tipped for Giants' final

Giants are counting on huge sideline support in their Hutt Valley premier division men's softball grand final match against Hutt City United at Fraser Park, Taita on Sunday afternoon.
So huge, in fact, that assistant coach Russell Thompson believes their supporters could outnumber those of their more-favoured opponents when the game gets under way at 3pm.
"The great thing about the Wairarapa is that when it comes to games like this we get right behind our sporting teams and I am sure this will be no different," Thompson said. "Every second person you talk to seems to heading over the hill on Sunday?..we're absolutely rapt with the way the local community is getting behind us."
One suspects too that Giants will draw support from a good percentage of the Hutt Valley softball fraternity as well
After all, everybody loves the underdog and considering this is their very first grand final appearance and Hutt City United have made a habit of being grand finalists over a long number of years they will certainly be that.
The record book too suggests HCU will be at short odds as in the five matches they have had against Giants this season they have won four and lost one.
And that sole victory was Giants' first-ever over the HCU side in premier division play.
Thompson is confident his players won't be intimidated by those statistics. Rather the message from head coach Tony Nixon and Thompson himself has been to use them to their own advantage.
"I guess noone is actually expecting us to win and that means the pressure of expectation is all on them," he said. " For us it's a case of everything to gain and nothing to lose and that's a nice way to be."
Thompson knows a strong start will be crucial to Giants' chances of upsetting the hotpots.
"The ideal would be to get an early lead and have them in chasing mode," he said.
"The more doubt we can create in their minds in the first couple of innings the better".
Good news for Giants is that all 15 of their squad are available for selection for Sunday's grand final and Thompson agrees that gives himself and Nixon a few headaches in sorting out their starting line-up.
"Everybody is the squad has contributed positively over the season and obviously this is a game everybody wants to play," he said.
The Giants squad is: Richard Clarke, Justin Karaitiana, Blair Thompson, Curtis Ames, Mark Quinn, Trevor Aldred, Terry Waitere, Gordon Wilmshurst, Ryan Shannahan, Corie Karaitiana, Cory Kinnon, Jared Lambert, Tony Nixon, Russell Thompson, Neil Foote.
Meanwhile, Giants have decided not to include any pick-up players in their line-up for the national inter-club tournament which will get underway in Hastings next Wednesday.
Russell Thompson said the club had received inquiries from players living outside the area over the possibility of joining up with them and with teams allowed to consist of 17 players they had the opportunity to include at least two in their team..
However, so well had their current 15-strong squad performed all season the decision to stick with them for the nationals was easily made.
"We didn't really the give the idea of pick-up players any serious consideration at all," he said. "We're happy with what we've got and we think we can do well with them."
Giants have been drawn in the same pool as Northcote, Auckland Marist, Hutt Valley Marist, Waitakere Bears and Johnsonville.
They have played Hutt Valley Marist four times this season and won the lot and in five meetings with Johnsonville they have won the last two games and lost the previous three.
The Northcote side is largely made of those players who won the national provincial league for North Harbour and will therefore start favourites for the top qualifying spot in their pool while Waitakere Bears are one of the stronger Auckland-based sides and have powerhouse Black Sox batter Patrick Shannon in their team.
Auckland Marist will also provide formidable opposition as they are invariably amongst the top eight club sides in the country.
Thompson said Giants was aiming for a top two place in their pool but were aware it would take a couple of big upsets for that to be achieved.
"Realistically if we finish around fourth we will be doing well but national tourneys always have their upsets and that's what we are depending on," he said.