It will be a trip into the unknown for both sides at the countrywide final in Ranfurly this afternoon.
Maniototo will host Heriot in a match in which there is potential for plenty of points to be scored.
Maniototo won the Central Otago final last week with a convincing 43-10 victory over Wakatipu, while Heriot won the South Otago final with a 52-24 win over Clutha.
Today's teams have not played each other, and Heriot coach Fraser Fletcher said the biggest thing about the game was that it was a trip into the unknown. Heriot will travel to Ranfurly this morning - a trip of about three hours - and Fletcher said the side was keen to put the icing on the cake of what had been a good season.
He said the biggest asset for his team this season had been its depth. Heriot had a squad of up to 28 players and that was a huge help when players got injured and become unavailable.
The side had a hard game last week in defeating Clutha but the players were keen to go the whole way.
The last time Heriot was in a countrywide final was in 1994, when it beat Alexandra.
It is Fletcher's first year of coaching after hanging up the boots last year.
Former Southland utility back Aaron Kimaru looms as the key for Heriot, with forwards Blair Young and Shaun Tauti bound to be in the mix.
Heriot has lost just once this season.
Maniototo has home advantage but it will have to do without experienced Charlie Hore, who usually directs his side around the paddock. Hore is in Sydney, watching brother Andrew play for the All Blacks.
Mitchell Lake comes into the first five-eighth position.
Maniototo last won the countrywide final two years ago. It has lost three games this season but appears to be peaking nicely.
Maniototo coach David Hunter has this week transferred to be principal of Taieri College, but the team will have plenty of confidence after its big win in the Central Otago final in Queenstown last week.
Countrywide final
Ranfurly, today, 2.30pm
Maniototo: Willi Clouston, Sam Miller, Matt Earl, James Becker, James Pyle, Mitchell Lake, Thomas Huddleston, Logan Dowling, Nathan Huddleston, AJ Paton, Scott Watson, Scott Sharpin, Christian Parkes, Charles Crutchly, Vaughn Dowling. Reserves: Sam Pringle, Lochie Elliot, Jake Scully, Alastair Mather, George Wadsworth.
Heriot: Bill Maiono, Jordan Anderson, Mike McHutcheon, Aaron Kimura, Chris Chittock, Adrian Clague, Jye Cormack, Brad Lapthorne, Shaun Tauti, Nathan Stuart (captain), Cam Russell, Ash Kinaston, Blair Young, Dylan MacKenzie, Craig Stanway. Reserves: Mark Jane, Richard Reddit, Jimmy Anderson, Karl Woosley, Lee Stiven, Scott Stiven.
