The side is fresh from an impressive 22-10 win over Otago Boys’ in the final of the Otago Schools Rugby Championship.
That match also doubled as the Highlanders’ regional final and has secured the Southlanders a home berth for the South Island final against Christchurch Boys’ tomorrow.
The winner will progress to the National First XV Championship finals.
There is a lot at stake.
The visitors have a couple of advantages. They had the weekend off after beating Nelson College 30-26 earlier this month to make the South Island final.
They also recorded a comfortable win against Southland Boys’ during the preseason.
But the Southlanders do not have to travel and get to play the game at the familiar Les George Oval.
They are also a much-improved unit. They defended really well against Otago Boys’ and that provided the platform for the victory.
They were able to build pressure through aggressive defence and then convert opportunities when presented with them.
But they will need to find another level.
"Christchurch Boys’ are pretty sharp. They’re big, athletic and they have a good set piece.
"They have some big ball runners in their loose forward trio and they have a good hooker.
"We’ll have to get up for it again this week.
"We played them in the preseason and they beat us quite easily. They won by about 15 or 19 in the end.
"It will be a good measure of how much we’ve improved this season.
"In one-off games like this, you are never confident. But we’ve been playing good rugby in the last three or four weeks."
Southland Boys’ have named and unchanged side, but a couple of players are carrying injuries and a decision on whether they play will be made tomorrow.
South Island First XV final
Invercargill, noon
Southland Boys’: Rico Muliaina, Jimmy Taylor, Preston Evans, Amaziah Mitchell, Kiseki Fifita, Mika Muliaina, Noah Sutton, Justin Shaw, Gregor Rutledge, Fraser Wilson, TJ Gallen, Thomas Spain, Ethan Brock, Hoani Nikora-Wilson, Jayton Fisher. Reserves: Thomas Jennings, Presley McHugh, Matt Johnson, Josh Cairns, Lachie Riley, Jordan O’Connell, Cody Stevens.
Christchurch Boys’ (possible): Ollie Singleton, Hiro Fuchigami, Jack Busch-Ward, Geordie Hassall, Bogi Kikua, Will Haig, Jack Lough, Marshall Blakely, James Moore, Finn McLeod, Jake Frost, George Steel, Kane Paranihi, Maua Letiu, Sam Giltrap. Reserves: Josh Findlay, Ethan Webber, Lachy Anderson, Siep Walta, Victory Isaako, Jasper O’Loughlin.
