Otago Boys' has not been beaten all season. In fact, no other team in the region has got within a sniff of the dominant side.
Waitaki Boys' High School - the opponent today - has conceded more than 50 points the two previous times the sides have clashed.
Waitaki Boys' coach Willy Guyton is realistic about what his side faces today.
"Let's be honest, they are a very good side. The best they've had for 20 years or so, they say. They've been streets ahead of everyone this year," Guyton said.
"We have just got to get out there and play as well as we can, and do what we can against them."
Waitaki has improved throughout the season, and beating Southland Boys' High School in Invercargill - its first win down south for many years - secured the Oamaru school a place in the final.
Flanker and captain Jake Rhodes suffered a shoulder injury more than a month ago and it was hoped he would be back for the final, but he has not recovered in time and is not available.
In contrast, Otago Boys' has welcomed back players over the past couple of weeks and is nearly back to full strength.
Big loose forward Troy Callander may come back on to the reserves bench after recovering from injury.
The side has won all its matches in the competition, all by wide margins, and it would be a major shock if it lost today.
Coach Ryan Martin said the players were really excited and training had gone well this week.
He said finals could sometimes do strange things for teams, and make players go into their shells.
"We are just making sure we keep doing what we have been doing. Rather than treat it as a big final, we should get excited about it and want to play our very best," Martin said.
The match will be played at Littlebourne and, although Martin is happy to play at the school's home ground, he felt the game should have been played at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
"Last year, they told us we could not play there because the of World Cup and it would be next year. Now, they are saying they have the test next month so we cannot play there and maybe next year.
"Because of the amount of rain we've had in Dunedin, Littlebourne will struggle. It will change the way the game is played, which is a shame. This is the final of a competition for the whole of the South, so it is a big thing."
Guyton also agreed the game should be played at the stadium, and could not understand why it was ruled out as a venue.
A Dunedin Venues Management Ltd spokeswoman said the stadium was never scheduled to host the game, and Littlebourne was in suitable condition.
The middle-four final will be in Oamaru, where St Kevin's College plays Gore High School, while at Bishopscourt, the bottom-four final will take place between John McGlashan College and Menzies College.
The winner of the match at Littlebourne will play the winner of the Crusaders competition in Christchurch next Saturday. The winner of that game will represent the South Island at the national top-four tournament.
St Bede's College will play Christchurch Boys' High School in the final in Christchurch today.
Highlanders First XV final
Otago Boys' v Waitaki Boys'
Where: Littlebourne, Dunedin.
When: Today, 1pm.
Otago Boys' High School: Sean Conner, Josh Casey, Sio Tomkinson, Aleki Morris, Eti Slater, Sam Ellis, Josh Renton (captain), Alex Fitzgerald, Hayden Cleghorn, Josh Dickson, Shay Kerry, Brendan Murdoch, Jermaine Ainsley, Sekonaia Pole, Ryan Williams. Reserves: Ben Hendry, Will Holdom, George Latta or Troy Callander, Josh Dawson, Ben Miller, Corey Miller, Lisala Halaeva.
Waitaki Boys' High School: Jamie Robb, James Pillay, Anthony Wetere-Sweet (captain), Levi Fogarty, Dean Fenwick, Nik Korkou, Hamish Elliot, Marc Fox, Jason McGimpsey, Hayden James, Josh Proctor, Don Lolo, Tui Katoa, Regan Smith, Eric Albrecht. Reserves: Issac Milne, Josh Ratcliffe, Aaron Perkins, Kane McLauchlan, Stephen Butler, James McCulloch.
Referee: Mike Smaill.
