St Hilda's Collegiate First XV is not sure what to expect when it plays Christchurch Girls' High School in the Garden City today.
It is all new ground for the school with the big dreams.
Southland Girls' High School has always claimed the spot in the South Island final of the national top-four tournament.
Not this year. St Hilda's upset its Invercargill rival to take the opportunity.
Just how good it will need to be today in order to reach the next stage is unclear.
Coach Alan West said information about the school's opponent was not easy to come by.
"We know very little apart from they've got really slick, fast backs," he said.
"And they've pretty much been running through their local competition largely untroubled, so it will be a big test for our girls."
What West knows with certainty is his side has been playing some solid rugby and has already inflicted one mighty upset.
"We're a small team but really dynamic and we're fit. And for the first time in a long time we've got good depth across the bench.
"We seem to be just wearing teams down by keeping things pretty basic and just working hard."
Southland Girls' has been the dominant force in the lower South Island.
It has won the Highlanders final every time since its inception in 2012. But St Hilda's snapped its seven-year winning streak with a 43-24 win earlier this month.
Captain Danielle Ferguson led the way with four tries. She is from good stock.
Brother Rory is a former New Zealand rugby league representative and captained John McGlashan College to a historic win against Otago Boys' High School in 2016, while her brother Leroy is also a promising rugby player and is the captain of the John McGlashan College First XV.
Ferguson's punishing runs from the base of the scrum got her side firmly on the front foot, while fellow loose forwards Georgie Jessop and Libby Drummond got through a ton of work.
Midfielder back and Otago cricketer Emma Black scored a double, including a 50m breakaway.
Loosehead prop Anna Harcus performed well against an experienced Southland pack. She also carried the ball into contact strongly.
Eden Carson, who like Black plays for the Otago Sparks, was dynamic at halfback and also landed four of her seven attempts at goal.
West said the Dunedin secondary school girls competition was small "but the standard is very high".
"We get knocked around every week, so the Dunedin teams are strong relative to the entire South Island really.
"This has allowed us to grow. There are more schools coming through in the junior 10s grades, which bodes well for growth."
South Island top-four final
St Hilda’s Collegiate v Christchurch Girls’ High School
Christchurch, today, noon
St Hilda’s: Ella Fry, Amelia Andrews, Zoe Whyte, Emma Black, Sarah Langsbury, Bee Park, Eden Carson, Danielle Ferguson, Georgie Jessop, Libby Drummond, Anna Duncan, Ruby Williams, Sophie Sinclair, Grace Beattie, Anna Harcus.
Reserves: Hannah Lithgow, Mia Urquhart, Iranui Keenan, Bridget Malcolm, Emma O’Meara, Sophie La Hood, Anya Clark, Bridget Sinclair.
