Playing on the back ground should not deter a large crowd from turning out for the big game in Oamaru tomorrow.
The Highlanders play the Crusaders in the final pre-season match of the season for both sides.
North Otago Rugby Football Union chief executive Colin Jackson said the union was attempting to create a carnival atmosphere for the game.
There would be 13 tents and a couple of marquees around the ground and Jackson was hoped a crowd similar to the first pre-season game in Balclutha - where about 3000 people turned up - would be at the game.
"This is the last game before the competition starts, so both teams should be close to having their proper starting line-ups.
We've had a lot of interest from further north, across the bridge, and would hope people will be keen to come along and watch some top-class rugby," he said.
The North Otago union had the option of moving the game on to the main ground at Whitestone Contracting Stadium after the North Otago cricket side lost the Hawke Cup late last month.
But Jackson said they stuck with the back ground as they had prepared it for a rugby match.
"We had the opportunity to prepare it a lot earlier and we now have a lush rugby field.
There is nothing wrong with the No 1 ground but we just wanted to go with the No 2 field.
And player safety is always of utmost importance.
The No 1 ground would still be too hard in places."
He said spectators should be able to get a good view of the game on the bank which runs along the ground.
Jackson said people in North Otago should get behind the game and prove they were big supporters of Super rugby.
The only drawback to the event would be rain.
The weather forecast was changing daily but he hoped for clear skies.
The union was hosting the game and would take any profit or loss from the gate.
Though he did not know how big the crowd had to be to break even, he was confident enough people would turn out.
There would be a bouncy castle, live music and a rippa rugby rugby game as a curtain-raiser, to help give a carnival atmosphere.
The town had previously hosted Super 14 warm-up games, and about 2000 had gone to see the Highlanders play the Reds six years ago, Jackson said.
A black tie dinner, where all 160 tickets have been sold, will take place in Oamaru tonight, with former All Black lock Ian Jones as guest speaker.
