But for North Otago coach Barry Matthews, it will be approached as just another game.
"We're trying to look at it as just another game. It's an occasion in itself and that will get the boys motivated," Matthews said.
"We've just got to turn that motivation in the right direction and keep it simple on the paddock and keep playing the way we have been playing. It's no good getting too excited.
"Sure, it's a big day, a huge occasion and there will be a big crowd. But the Ranfurly Shield challenge earlier in the season was a big one and the boys fronted up well. Hopefully they can control that excitement and stick to the game plan."
North Otago, which dropped only one game in the Heartland competition this season, to Mid Canterbury, comes into the final with the knowledge that it has already beaten Wanganui in Oamaru this season.
Matthews has kept the same starting XV from last week's semifinal win over Mid Canterbury, with one change in the reserves, where winger Kasanova Soane replaces Ekeroma Sefo.
The home ground should be a boost for North Otago, according to Matthews.
"It's very important. I really hope we get a big crowd. The boys said last week that it was good playing in front of a big crowd last Saturday. As well, we don't have to travel, so that's a big advantage.
"I know we haven't played well for the full 80 minutes this season but everyone is trying for that. I think that the way we play the game - and Wanganui is much the same - both teams give the ball a lot of air and because of this there always will be mistakes.
"I don't know whether we can play the perfect 80 minutes but it would certainly be a good day to start.
"If the boys and the team collectively play well, we should win, but at the end of the game, if the boys come off the park and are able to say, `I did everything in my power to win the game,' I'll be happy with that."
Of the Wanganui side, fullback Ace Malo and loosehead prop and captain Matt Gilbert have been under a cloud this week.
Malo, a free-running attacking player, has a calf muscle injury, while Gilbert suffered a chest muscle injury against Poverty Bay last Saturday.
Wanganui will be aiming for its third successive Meads Cup title and coach Guy Lennox is reasonably happy with the season.
"Obviously, at the beginning of the year we set out to make the final, so we're there," Lennox said.
"We've developed a few new players but we haven't been as consistent as we might have been, but when we played well, we played well.
"In our first match against North Otago they finished over the top of us. We had our opportunities but we weren't good enough to take them, but this was due to North Otago. Their defensive structure is pretty sound.
"Usually we can break down sides so we've had another look at how we can do that. North Otago are a lot fitter than they have been in the past.
"But it is all about taking every little opportunity that comes our way. North Otago is not going to give it to us. We're going to have to earn it."
- Terry O'Neill
