Pirates and University will approach tonight's women's club final with very different game plans.
Defending champion Pirates will look to bash the ball up and dominate the forward exchanges, whereas University will play the angles and look to turn Pirates around with a clever kicking game.
It is a clash of styles which should make for a fascinating match.
The final is being played early, as the representative season starts in early August and the Otago Spirit want time to get prepared for the season.
Pirates and University have met twice this year for one win apiece.
Pirates won the earlier encounter 38-7.
University won the return match 24-17 but Pirates had a player in the bin for the best part of 50 minutes, and will start as favourites.
Black Ferns loose forward and Pirates captain Angie Sisifa will lead the charge with support from experienced prop Gemma Tuhega and quality loosies Rachael Ovens and Jasmine Hastie.
But while Pirates will believe they have an edge up front, they also have strike power in the backs.
Experience midfielder Greer Muir, seasoned fullback Sheree Hume and the dangerous winger Kristina Moa'atane will be a handful for the University defence.
University will counter through the sound kicking games of first five-eighth Michaela Baker, fullback and captain Megan Manson and Black Fern Victoria Nafatali-Subritzky.
She is back living in Dunedin for a stint but the Counties Manukau player will not be available for the Otago Spirit this season.
She is a former Pirates player and her presence in the University backline strengthens the side significantly.
"Kicking is definitely going to be part of the game plan,'' Manson said.
"If we can turn Pirates around with our kicking game, we can tire them out faster than they would otherwise.''
Fitness is an area where University will look to press a perceived advantage.
"We believe as a team that will be our biggest strength,'' Manson added.
"We're quite a small team, so being able to go for 80 minutes against some of the bigger opponents we come up against is hopefully an advantage.''
Openside flanker Georgia Mason is a key player in the University pack.
Prop Genevieve Cockburn has stepped up this season, while fellow front-rower Jo Ammundsen brought up 100 games for the club in the semifinal and is part of the leadership team.
● A Pirates win in the women's competition would be boost the club in a difficult season.
The Pirates premier men's side was hit by injuries earlier in the campaign and came close to defaulting against Taieri.
It has lost its last 11 games and languishes in last place, having conceded an average of almost 56 points per game.
The club will hold a forum next month to discuss its future.
"It is just about the club getting some old boys together to chuck some ideas at us [about] how they want to see the club moving forward,'' Pirates club chairman Conrad Stedman said.
"There are no issues, there is no agenda, there is nothing on the table. We want to hear from the members young and old.''
Women's final
Pirates v University
University Oval, No 2, today, 5.30pm
Pirates: Sheree Hume, Kristina Moa'atane, Greer Muir, Bre Kaio Te Whetu, Renaye Flockton, Larissa Muir, Erin Burton, Rachael Ovens, Angie Sisifa (captain), Jasmine Hastie, Syreeta Norris, Michaela Day, Alicia Saili, Gemma Millar, Gemma Tuhega. Reserves: Nicky Whitworth, Caitlan Hurrells, Madi Finch, Sepi Vea/Kiri Nikora-Hines, Vaci Vakalala, Grace Schrader, Lydia Shaw.
University: Megan Manson (captain), Liv Waldron, Georgie McCullough, Victoria Nafatali-Subritzky, Sophie Dhyrberg, Michaela Baker, Leyhana van Vugt, Tegan Hallows, Georgia Mason, Julia Gorinski, Zarha Shatamasebi, Jess Kendall, Genevieve Cockburn, Kelly Whitten, Jo Ammundsen. Reserves: Mary-Jane Kivalu, Claudia Hobbs, Katie Brock, Trisha Hopcroft, Loraine Tye, Nicole Kennedy, Rian Sanerive.
