The result may be of little more than academic interest, but the Heartland championship rugby match between Wairarapa-Bush and Buller at Masterton tomorrow will still have special significance.
It will be the last first-class fixture played on the grass surface on the No 1 ground at Memorial Park before construction starts on an artificial turf, complete with lights, which will be utilised by rugby and football.
The odds of Wairarapa-Bush making an historic occasion even better by scoring what would be only their second win in this year's Heartland championship are not exactly bright when you consider Buller have yet to be beaten in seven matches and have already guaranteed themselves a home Meads Cup semifinal. Win that and the final will be in Westport as well.
It could be that Buller's strong lead-up form could work in Wairarapa-Bush's favour. With an eye to the more important games to come, the southerners won't be risking any players who are showing any signs of wear and tear. Consequently, their level of performance could drop to a level where they become vulnerable against a home side desperate to give their loyal supporters something positive to remember from a disastrous season.
There are several talking points in the Wairarapa-Bush starting line-up, especially in the backs where Joseph Sio and Sam Monaghan will combine at halfback and first-five respectively, Robbie Anderson and Inia Katia will be in midfield, Nathan Hunt and Cameron Hayton on the wings and Nick Olson at fullback. Three regular first-stringers, Zeb Aporo, Byron Karaitiana and Ben Aoina, have been relegated to the reserves. In the absence of Aoina, the role of goal-kicker is likely to go to Monaghan.
