The side that adapts best to the conditions may well pick up the important points when West Coast hosts Lochore Cup leader North Otago at Rugby Park this afternoon.
Steady rain late this week in Greymouth could produce conditions which are foreign to the North Otago players and their ability to adapt tactics quickly to the conditions could hold the key to the game.
West Coast is lying in second place with 16 points, four behind North Otago, but West Coast will be watching King Country warily.
King Country is only a point behind West Coast and it could pick up maximum points against East Coast this afternoon.
A West Coast win without a bonus point and a King Country win with a bonus point could see, at the end of the afternoon, North Otago, West Coast and King Country all on 20 points.
North Otago coach Mike Mullins is looking a little ahead of today's game as far as injuries are concerned.
"Loosehead prop Palenapa Mafi will not travel this weekend. He's had a calf strain which we're trying to manage and he's carrying a slight neck injury as well so we've got to look at the bigger picture and have everyone fresh and fit for next week. So we're not taking any risks."
North Otago lock Duncan Naude, who came off the bench in the second half against Buller, will start this afternoon.
"We saw last week a little of what he can do when he gets his hands on the ball and the change is basically a motivational thing. We just want more out of him."
There was some concern about the co-ordination last week between No 8 Samisoni Tongotongo and halfback Jason Forrest at scrum-time.
"That was possibly because Samisoni has not had much game time and while he and Jason play for the same club, Jason has been mainly at first five-eighth.
"But Forrest gets the nod over Nick Webster as the width he creates with his pass gives the backs extra space."
The other absentee this week is left winger Lemi Masoe, who is out with ankle injury.
West Coast has won four of its seven games.
While it has scored just 10 tries, Mullins rates North Otago's opponent.
"They've got a big pack, so it's always going to be physical," he said.
"They've got some handy backs. Their co-captain at halfback, James Ferguson, played for the Divisional side last year. They've got a goalkicking first five-eighth who can kick goals from anywhere backed up by a solid midfield and a counter-attacking fullback."
West Coast coach Anthony Lawry has a problem he hopes won't go away.
"Last week, when we had to travel to play King Country, I could only get a squad of 20 players with a number of players unable to get off work. It's a different story today."
- Terry O'Neill
Otago v W. Coast
Greymouth, today, 2.30pm
North Otago: Peter Breen, Ofa Fatai, Ekeroma Sefo, Aaron Kimura, Hamish Clare, Daniel Waenga, Jason Forrest, Samisoni Tongotongo, Ross Hay, Paula Fonokalafi, Aisake Fonua, Duncan Naude, Tavite Mafi, Mike Essex, Ralph Darling.
Reserves: Fraser Fletcher, Rangi Hepi, Lei'ataua Limuloa, David Simpson, Josh Collier, Nick Webster, Chris Talanoa.
West Coast: Robert Thomson, Luke Hughes, James Ward, James Cooper, Maleli Tora, Josh Cornish, James Ferguson, Mark de Goldi, Chris Mason, Chris Mason, Tere Wycliff, Pete Nicholls, Sam Dury, Rowan O'Gorman, Blair Mirfin.
Reserves: Gordon Iafeta, Mike Monk, Brad Houston, Allan Monk, Nik Davy, Damien Blackburn, Blair Sims.
