It might be Mercedes against Minis tomorrow, with champion Auckland City bringing an 18-game unbeaten streak to contrast with Otago United's faltering form in 2012.
Otago has never beaten Auckland in Dunedin, and the solitary 1-0 win in Auckland, when Vanuatan striker Victor Maleb scored the only goal of the match, seems like years ago.
The statistics suggest Auckland City starts as red-hot favourite. Ten wins and three draws in its past 13 matches, stretching over six years, suggest Otago United has a monstrous job ahead.
"We are almost running on empty," said coach Richard Murray, referring to the loss of his experienced players to Australia and beyond.
"Chucking youngsters in at the deep end has been character-building, and some individuals have emerged stronger and have produced some decent passages of play.
"But there have also been erratic breakdowns, that have cost us dearly, and hard-earned competition points slipped away."
United's player drain continued recently with the talented Joel Stevens on trial for a month in the United States with San Jose Earthquakes. Young defender Matt Brook is off first to Perth, then to Hawaii for a football scholarship there.
To freshen what is left of his squad, Murray has promoted academy player Jackson Mitchell, Jude Fitzpatrick and Canadian Donnie Macgregor.
Out are the suspended Sam Mepham and Seamus Ryder, with a shoulder injury.
Murray has expressed concerns that several young players have played non-stop for several seasons.
"Other ASB franchises encourage players to have a rest but in Otago it's full speed ahead throughout continuous seasons."
With only two matches to go, it is the mountain-climbing prospect of playing a very strong Auckland team, then a final game against Waikato in Hamilton.
Auckland's 39-year-old Spanish coach is a graduate of the brand of football Lionel Messi and his Barcelona team-mates brought to the global stage when they taught Manchester United a lesson last year.
"That's the kind of football I've always played in my entire life growing up in Barcelona," Ramon Tribulietx said.
Tribulietx is struggling for players, too. With only about 26 to pick from, he has drafted in former All White Ricki Van Steeden and Adam McGeorge to balance the books.
Yet, Otago hope springs eternal. In the earlier round at Kiwitea Street, Auckland cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win, but two of the goals were scored after 90 minutes were up.
It might not reek of Barcelona style, but another staunch, no-surrender defensive effort from Otago might unsettle the visitors.
Otago v Auckland
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tomorrow, 2pm
• Otago United: Oswaldo Rodriguez, Tristan Prattley (captain), Jude Fitzpatrick, Matt Joy, Morgan Day, Regan Coldicott, Donnie Macgregor, Ant Hancock, Jackson Mitchell, Harley Rodeka, Jose Cantillo, Peter Evans, Andrew Ridden, Craig Ferguson, James Watson, Aajay Cunningham.
• Auckland City: Tamati Williams, Riki van Steeden, Angel Berlanga, Chad Coombes, James Pritchett, Manel Exposito, Luis Corrales, Daniel Koprivcic, Alex Feneridis, Adam Dickinson, Ivan Vicelich (captain), Albert Riera, Adam McGeorge, Iwa Shaker, Ivan Diaz, Andrew Milne, Simon Arms, Stephen Carmichael, Liam Anderson.
