But since entering the league in 2004, the men's team has fallen short, finishing closer to the bottom than the top of the table. Today will mark its first appearance in the semifinals when it plays Capital in Auckland.
"It is a tremendous achievement and endorses the development work we've been doing," Southern coach Dave Ross said yesterday.
"Canterbury and Midlands pump a lot of money into hockey and have not made the semifinals. So to get in ahead of them is a really good achievement."
Southern beat Capital 4-3 in a thriller in Dunedin earlier this month and will go into the match with plenty of confidence.
But the last week has been taxing and Ross said his side had spent much energy reaching the playoffs.
"Capital are playing good hockey and I said at they time when we did beat them, that they are a very good side and we played particularly well that day.
"But I think ultimately it will be about intensity. We've done a lot of hard yards to get to where we are and are a little bit tired, I guess. So we'll need to lift physically, and if we can match them in terms of the one-on-one contests then we will do well.
"If we find we are running out of legs then we'll struggle."
Former Black Stick James Nation will return to the fold.
The experienced defender is only available during the weekend and will add a starch to the defensive unit.
"That will give us a big boost," Ross said.
"We got through some tough games in his absence ... but he has a cool head and is able to direct traffic around the park and get people in the right spots really early."
Auckland will play North Harbour in the other semifinal.
In the women's tournament, Auckland will play Midlands in one semifinal and North Harbour plays Canterbury in the other.
Southern will play Central in a crossover game. The team missed out on a place in the top four but has been targeting the playoff for fifth and sixth. It will need to beat Central to realise that ambition.
