On one side of Jack Reid Park tomorrow will be the Arrowtown Bulls - a team holding on to first place on the Central Otago premier rugby table by the skin of its teeth, desperate to make amends for a shock loss to Clyde-Earnscleugh in Clyde on Saturday.
On the other, the Wakatipu premier side, holder of the White Horse Cup and a team salivating at the thought of beating Arrowtown at home and claiming the top spot on the table.
Both teams, however, have their eyes on the same ultimate prize - to be named 2012 Central Otago Premier Rugby champion.
Tomorrow's game has every ingredient required for an epic encounter and Wakatipu captain Regan Pearce says his team is ready to do battle.
"We're feeling good; last week was obviously and uplifting occasion [beating Upper Clutha 57-17 in Wanaka], winning with a bonus point, but also to hear Arrowtown had been tipped up by Clyde-Earnscleugh.
"That certainly brought a bit of surprise and raised eyebrows.
"We sit within one point of each other [on the table], so it makes for a very interesting three weeks."
Pearce said his team was "very excited" about tomorrow's clash and had learned its lesson following the first battle of the basin in Queenstown during the first round - Arrowtown won that game 32-15.
Pearce said to play Arrowtown at Jack Reid Park was a "totally different game" and many of the players had never experienced the Bulls' home ground.
"Arrowtown is a great vocal side ... I am pleased not to be playing wing on Saturday.
"No doubt I will still hear a bit of abuse ... but they [the Arrowtown supporters] give us motivation."
After a slow start to the season, the Wakatipu side now seemed to have found top gear, Pearce said.
"We know it's one game at a time, but where we've come from ... that loss against Arrowtown at home in the first round was like a massive wake-up call.
"We got off to a great start, but towards the mid-section we've had a couple of shockers.
"I don't want to Graeme Lowe us, but we're certainly revved up about taking on ... Arrowtown out there."
The last time Wakatipu made a semifinal was in 2008, when it was knocked out by Upper Clutha.
This year the side was determined to go the distance, he said.
"Regarding the final being played in Alexandra ... it doesn't matter whether it will be played in Alex or Athol, winning this championship is our goal."
Meanwhile, Arrowtown captain Aidan Winter said his side was "definitely excited", but needed to make a "huge step up from last week".
Clyde-Earnscleugh beat Arrowtown 18-7 last weekend, just the second loss the Bulls have suffered all season - the first loss was in the second round when Arrowtown lost the White Horse Cup to Maniototo.
"There needs to be a huge improvement for us to win based on last week's performance, but the boys are up for it," Winter said.
Kick-off tomorrow will be at the earlier time of 2pm.
Head to head
Last time they met: Arrowtown 31, Wakatipu 15
Arrowtown: 44 points
• 11 played
• 9 wins
• 2 losses
• 8 bonus points
• 413 points for 130 points against
Wakatipu: 43 points
• 11 played
• 9 wins
• 2 losses
• 7 bonus points
• 400 points for 181 points against
