There are still four preliminary-round matches remaining before the top four sides go through to the Meads Cup semifinals and Rutene sensibly sees victory in the upcoming game as just another step along that path.
"Quite honestly, every game is a must-win, you can't afford to treat them any other way," Rutene said. "It's nice to be where we are but we have to keep winning to stay there, there's no room for complacency, none at all."
Rutene is anticipating a stiff test from a King Country side which is only a solitary point behind Wairarapa-Bush on the competition ladder. They have already claimed the scalps of both of last year's Meads Cup finalists, East Coast and Wanganui, and last weekend had a 27-22 victory over previous 'top dogs' Thames Valley.
"They are playing well and will have plenty of confidence, it's going to be another tough one for us."
Invariably King Country's strength lies in the ruggedness of their pack and the Wairarapa-Bush forwards will need to up the ante from what they displayed in the narrow win over Horowhenua-Kapiti last weekend to counter them there, especially in the tight exchanges where King Country reputedly have a good mix of bulk and mobility. That they will rely on the 'pick and go' and short passing rushes as the main launching pads for their attacks seems very likely.
The only change in the Wairarapa-Bush pack from the eight which initially took the field against Horowhenua-Kapiti comes on the blindside flank where Johnie McFadzean is in for Sam Marshall-Wilson, who will start from the reserves bench on this occasion. Marshall-Wilson was, in fact, one of the more effective Wairarapa-Bush forwards last weekend and his demotion is clearly not based on form.
Rather, it is probably a case of Rutene and assistant coach Paddy Gough simply deciding there was so little between the two contenders they could swap places without the team effort being affected to any extent.
There is just the one change in the Wairarapa-Bush backline as well. Wing Cameron Hayton is now recovered from the injury hassles which forced his withdrawal from the starting XV against Horowhenua-Kapiti and his selection sees Nathan Hunt on the bench.
Hunt has had precious few opportunities to demonstrate his attacking skills this season and while he and Hayton were the first choice wingers last season - and were both named in the national Heartland side - there is no question that the in-form winger for Wairarapa-Bush this season has been Paul Tikomainavalu. He made a number of strong bursts in broken play last weekend and has deservedly retained his starting spot for tomorrow.
The Wairarapa-Bush team is:
Nick Olson; Cameron Hayton, Titapu Pairama-Lewington, Byron Karaitiana, Paul Tikomainavalu; Glen Walters; Zeb Aporo; Nathan Iro; Johan Van Vliet, Lachie McFadzean, Clark Butcher, Johnnie McFadzean; Finnbarr Kerr-Newell, Richard Puddy, Jonathan Fuimaono.Reserves: Joseph Sio, Tapaga Isaac, Nathan Hunt, Jamie Hunt, Campbell Lawrence, Wiremu Grace, Sam Marshall-Wilson.
