Playing away from home should be no worry for Wairarapa-Bush either. As head coach Mark Rutene said this week their best form over the past couple of seasons has often been shown when they have had the visitor tag.
Rutene also understands, however, that no matter what the venue, beating North Otago will require a peak performance and that's why he was keeping his feet firmly on the ground after his side's 34-19 dismissal of Horowhenuna-Kapiti at Otaki last weekend.
Yes, it was pleasing to come away from their last pre-championship match with a decent winning margin but there were enough hiccups to remind players and management that a much more disciplined effort will be required if tomorrow's match is to be won.
Particularly concerning, considering the depth of attacking talent North Otago have in their backs, was the number of times the Horowhenua-Kapiti rearguard probed gaps in the Wairarapa-Bush defence.
In Fijian rep Simon Koniferedi and Joseva Kunawave North Otago have a couple of midfielders who impressed hugely in their team's 55-9 loss to Southland earlier in the month and if the Wairarapa-Bush tackling is as tentative as it was at Otaki they will have a field day here.
Up front Wairarapa-Bush will need to show greater unity in the lineouts where North Otago's effort will be spearheaded by national Heartland rep Eric Duff. The communication between thrower and jumper was not always as good as you would like against Horowhenua-Kapiti and neither was the protection of the ball carrier.
It will be important too that the same unity is shown in the looser phases of the forward game as anybody down North Otago way will tell you that in pacey flanker Josh Clark they have a player capable of going right to the top. And they will also wax lyrical about the power and strength of No8 Sausoni Tongolongo. Give him an inch around the fringes of the scrums and mauls and he will take a mile.
Rutene and assistant coach Paddy Gough have elected to stay mainly with the tried and true in their starting line-up for tomorrow's match although there are a couple of choices in the backline which might raise a few eyebrows.
The more experienced Zeb Aporo has got the nod over the in-form Joseph Sio at halfback and Byron Karaitiana has edged out Tapaga Isaac at second-five.
Sio and Isaac are in the reserves but there is no place at all for excitement machine Inia Katia whose below-par effort at Otaki probably cost him his place. His return as the season progresses, however, is practically guaranteed.
In the forwards it must have virtually been toss of the coin stuff between hookers Richard Puddy and Jamie Hunt with Puddy getting the start, a chest infection might have been all that stopped Wiremu Grace from being chosen ahead of his East Coast clubmate Clark Butcher at lock and the return from injury of No8 Nathan Iro means another of the in-form players in Johnie McFadzean will start on the reserves bench.
Supporters not travelling to Oamaru will be able to hear a commentary on Eketahuna FM 106.5. Car radio will probably provide the best sound track.
The full Wairarapa-Bush team is: Nick Olson; Nathan Hunt, Titapu Pairama-Lewington, Byron Karaitiana, Cameron Hayton; Glen Walters; Zeb Aporo; Nathan Iro; Johan Van Vliet, Clark Butcher, Lachie McFadzean, James Goodger; Finbarr Kerr-Newell, Richard Puddy, Campbell Lawrence. Reserves: Joseph Sio, Paul Tiko, Tapaga Isaac, Jamie Hunt, Johnie McFadzean, Jon Fuimaono.
