Wairarapa-Bush won't die wondering when they challenge Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield at Jade Stadium, Christchurch next Tuesday.
Experienced first-five Patrick Rimene says his side will be adopting an assertive attitude on both attack and defence.
"We've talked about it a lot and the feeling is we have to be positive in
everything we do," Rimene said. "If you stand back and wait for a team like Canterbury to come to you they'll tear you to pieces .We have to get in their faces and make it as awkward for them as we can."
Rimene is aware though that some minor technical adjustments may have to be made if Wairarapa-Bush is make their presence felt against a Canterbury side which will be powerful at both back and forward.
In anticipation of the pace of the game being somewhat quicker than that experienced when they won the NPC third division title last season, the Wairarapa-Bush backs will stand deeper on attack than what was usually the case then.
"We know how quick the Canterbury loosies are and we don't want to be easy targets for them," Rimene said. " We'll just give ourselves a bit more space to get organised and hopefully we can have a crack at them out wide"
In the forwards Wairarapa-Bush will utilise the likes of short lineouts and quick delivery to the scrums in an attempt to unsettle Canterbury and hopefully break up their rhythm in those crucial ball-winning departments.
"If we are to put them under pressure we have to get a reasonable amount of good ball and that's a big focus for us," Rimene said. "It's a huge ask for the forwards but they are ready for it."
For Rimene next Tuesday's match will represent the first time he has run onto Jade Stadium and he admits to feeling excited about the prospect of playing on one of the country"s most famous rugby grounds, and in his first Ranfurly Shield challenge to boot.
"It's an opportunity which comes around very seldom these days for unions like ours and we want to have good memories of it," he said. " For that to happen we need to play well and that's the number one aim for us."
And what if Wairarapa-Bush achieve what seems mission impossible and actually bring the Shield home with them?
"We'll need a week off to celebrate?..it'll be just one big party then," Rimene joked.
"And a ticker tape parade?.yes, that would be nice too!"
