Although the side won’t have their 21-points-scoring winger from that game, Fletcher Morgan - in camp with the All Black Sevens squad – their physical forward pack led by Cameron Dromgool and their steady backs under Sam McCahon having been playing tight matches all campaign, and on most occasions come up trumps.
“They’re obviously a well-prepared side, they come out in that game hungry, the first one,” coach Jason Hamlin said.
“We know what’s coming for us, the cards fell our way last weekend [with a bonus point].
“They’ll be all guns blazing. Accept what that is and make sure the things they were able to do last time around, we’re countering that.
“They’re a bigger team, there’s no secret recipe to it. Get them on the ground, take away their time and space.
“No one’s going to beat them by a massive score, there is probably less than 10 points in it.
“They’re not going to beat themselves, they were physically up for the challenge last time.
“Whoever gets it more right on Saturday is going to be the winner.”
To that end, the steady voice of 37-year-old hooker Roman Tutauha who, if his hamstring will allow it, will take the field for his 100th first class game since 2012, will set the tone.
Leading into last weekend’s crucial game with Horowhenua-Kapiti, where the side was discussing how to make sure they won with four tries to give themselves the chance to overtake Thames Valley, Tutauha set the tone.
“In Roman’s words, ‘if we do the performance part right, the result falls into place’,” Hamlin said.
Having captained the team on multiple occasions and won three Meads Cups and two Lochore Cups, Tutauha proudly carries the wisdom passed on to him from the likes of Peter Rowe, Matt Gilbert, David Gower and Fraser Hammond among others – giving important guidance, especially to the host of rookie props who have debuted in the past two seasons.
“Sooner or later, it will be their ship to guide,” Hamlin said.
“Having someone with Roman and Lindsay’s [Horrocks] experience, and what they bring to the team - they drive a lot of stuff with training and attitude.
“They set the standard for what we want for the Heartland jerseys.
“Get over this hurdle, all our focus, and his 100th is part of it.”
As well as Tutauha’s hamstring being a concern, with Whanganui not naming their team until Thursday evening, lock Josh Lane has an injured collarbone and flanker Samu Kubunavanua a fractured hand.
“Trying to give [Lane] all the time for recovery, got a ready-made replacement with Matt Ashworth, but it’s how we cover [lock] afterwards,” Hamlin said.
“It’s a real shame for Samu, but it’s an opportunity for Josefa [Namosimalua].
“His work has been pretty solid [off the bench], getting his work-rate up – that will be the challenge for him, keep it as high as he can.”
With those injuries in the forwards, look for big games from flanker Jamie Hughes and prop Raymond Salu – the former being outstanding with his line speed and chop tackles, while the latter has come from being outside the squad when they last played Thames Valley to the No1 ball carrier.
But Hamlin has asked the whole pack to make sure Salu is not a one-man band – the onus on Hadlee Hay-Horton, Konradd Newland and Gabriel Hakaraia to also deliver.
Kickoff is the earlier time of 1pm.
