Wellington's survival instincts have kicked in to preserve their national provincial championship rugby dignity for the time being at least.
Their desperation revealed itself tonight when they scrapped hard for a 30-25 win over Southland at Wellington Stadium.
Entering the match seventh and last on the premiership standings Wellington and sixth-placed Southland both targeted victory to ease their automatic relegation concerns.
And it was Wellington who achieved the result they wanted, helped in no small measure by highly competent young first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga, who turned in a craftman's performance in bitterly cold, windy and wet conditions.
His goalkicking proved the difference as Sopoaga landed six of seven attempts for 15 points to complement a brace of tries from promising No 8 Brad Shields and another for fullback Apoua Stewart.