In others, it has a significant disadvantage.
It has all the benefits of having its season under way.
The nerves should be dampened, the match fitness should be a little higher, the in-game cohesiveness will be there.
On the other hand, Matatū is facing a Blues team that brings fresh — although Covid-19 recovering — bodies, an opening-game excitement, and an element of the unknown.
Matatū coach Blair Baxter admitted there was a trade-off in the situation, as his team heads into its second Super Rugby Aupiki game in Hamilton.
"I don’t know which camp I’d prefer to be sitting in, to be honest," he said.
"This week’s been about us. Last week, we didn’t get a couple of things right, so getting more clarity around the way we want to play.
"I think you’ll see some change there.
"What we’re getting better at is adapting under pressure and adapting to what we see.
"We’ve prepared to not know anything about the Blues, other than their names."
Baxter said recovery had been a major focus over the past few days.
It was a short turnaround from Matatū’s 17-15 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday night.
He said the team had been proud of the way it played.
For some, it was the highest level of rugby they had experienced, and for others, it was a step down from international level.
However, both had taken plenty from the outing.
"I think even some of our Black Ferns, that have been exposed at an international level, may have been surprised around the physicality and pressure that both teams came under.
"That was a really big learning to come out of that.
"For the girls that haven’t experienced that level, they got out of it that they are good enough and they can compete at this level. That’s really exciting."
Matatū has made two changes to its starting line-up.
Vice-captain Kendra Reynolds returns at openside flanker, as in-form Marcelle Parkes drops out with a shoulder niggle.
That has triggered a reshuffle in the loose forward trio, as Alana Bremner moves to No 8 and Lucy Jenkins shifts to the blindside flank.
In the backs, Australian international Arabella McKenzie comes in at first five-eighth.
While Matatū had been unable to scout the Blues, Blair said on paper they posed plenty of threats.
"They’ve got quite a few Black Ferns.
"They’ll have a big forward pack and be quite physical. We need to win that physical battle early.
"They’ve got some really good girls in the backline. They’ve got a really good kicking game and they’ve got some power, so they've got threats across the park."
-- JEFF CHESHIRE
