The West Taieri side will take on Kaikorai in the final of the premier two grade at Outram tomorrow afternoon.
It has been a steep rise up the ranks for West Taieri, a club which has been punching above its weight over the past few years.
Club president Darryl Mac-Kenzie said the club had always had a team in the senior grade and the decision was made a couple of years ago to move up to the premier two grade.
"We had a good core of guys who wanted to have a crack at it and we thought we would have a go. The goal next year is to look at also having a senior side," he said.
Last year, West Taieri finished middle of the table in its first year at premier two grade but this year, under long-time coach Gary Nichol and his assistant, Alan Hill, the team finished top of the ladder.
"There has been a new focus this year, with a few guys who have some connection with the area coming back in and guys came out from different places.
"Plus we try to make it a real club atmosphere, give the guys a good reason to play here. All the feedback we’ve had is the guys really enjoy that."
The side lost just one game, to Eastern, this season and managed to beat Dunedin in the semifinal last week with a last-minute try.
Key players for the team include lock Steve Green and long-time No8 Dave McNeil, who is the team’s top try-scorer.
Conner Jenkins is an important player at openside flanker while Daniel Adam runs the cutter at first five-eighth.
West Taieri has not faced Kaikorai before this season. The sides were scheduled to take on each other at the start of the season but Kaikorai was forced to default.
The West Taieri club is planning a big day tomorrow, putting up a temporary grandstand, plenty of banners and vocal support.
The club would have its prizegiving tomorrow night to conclude the festivities.
The club has an active junior section and about 100 players wear the West Taieri colours every week. MacKenzie said it was important to look after the junior club.
The club was hoping to attract enough players next year for a second team, playing in the senior grade.
If it wins the final tomorrow there will inevitably be talk of taking the next step and having a tilt at the premier grade. With Pirates withdrawing this season there is an obvious vacancy at the top club level.
MacKenzie said there had been no formal discussion about taking the next step but that had not stopped people talking.
"We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves. We don’t want to jinx the final. But there has been talk. We’ll push hard over summer and see where we get."