Opaki will be fielding a full strength line-up for tomorrow's game with Stu Wyeth at the top of their men's singles order, followed by Dymond, Chris Davidson and Jon McNab while Katie Alsop and Rebecca Perry make up their women's section.
The evenness of their men is a bonus for Opaki as while it can create difficulties for them at the top of the singles order it often has the opposite effect at the bottom where Davidson and McNab can usually be relied on to make up lost ground. And it also gives them useful depth in the doubles where a variety of combinations can be used without weakening the overall performance.
It is more than likely, however, that if Opaki claim the spoils tomorrow it will be their women who prove to be the trump card. Alsop (nee Wyeth) is virtually unbeatable in singles play at club level and has an outstanding record in doubles as well while Perry is a more-than-useful performer in both spheres too. Three from three from them is probably a "must" for Opaki.
Martinborough will be without their top man, Tim Pickering, as they were for their semifinal against Masterton last weekend , but with Matt Nicholson, Andy Darling, Bruce Lovell and Campbell Venning there will still be no shortage of experience in their men's section and their women, Rhona Lovell and Libby Paterson, have plenty of that commodity as well.
The onus will be on Nicholson and Darling to dominate at the top of the order in the men's singles and to also lead the way in the doubles. Paterson's singles with Perry will also be vital to their chances and if she and Lovell can tip over Alsop and Perry in the doubles the southerners could get their noses in front.
For Rhona Lovell, however, there is no saying who will take the spoils "It's going to be close, very close," she said.