After starting the year at what seemed like the bottom of the Dead Sea, Otago now finds itself on the cusp of reaching the peak.
Win tonight in the ITM Cup championship final, and Otago will have earned its place back in the top echelon of provincial rugby.
That goal looked a forlorn hope at times this season - the union on the brink of going broke, players being cut, and the team being handed a lesson in pre-season.
But both the team and the union have met adversity head-on, climbed over it, and now Otago could crown a season which would be hard to match in dramatic terms.
Getting a win tonight is not going to be easy. Standing in its way is Counties-Manukau, an explosive side, with plenty of attacking weapons.
The Steelers have looked the best team in the championship all season, handing out nothing short of a hiding to Otago just six weeks ago.
Otago has improved since then and coach Tony Brown said the team had continually been moving forward.
"It is a steep learning curve but what is an impressive thing for me is how quickly they have learned and how well they have developed as a team," he said.
"They have adapted to every situation thrown up in front of them this year."
Most of the new players have passed their first year of rugby education at this level. If they win tonight, they are on the way to the honours degree department.
Brown said his players were all aware it was a final, and it was up to each individual to get the mental preparation right.
"It is about staying composed. In a final, a couple of chances might come along and we've got to make sure we take them, and make sure we defend well.
"We can't allow them to get too much of a roll-on. But I'm sure at times they will get a roll-on. It will be about how we handle that, how we react to it."
Brown said the side had trained well this week, boosted by the return of a couple of All Blacks in fullback Ben Smith and centre Tamati Ellison.
It was good for people to be excited about Otago being in the final, he said.
"It is great to see people enjoying Otago rugby again.
Dunedin seems a better place when Otago is winning and everyone gets behind the rugby team."
Otago was beaten 43-12 by Counties-Manukau on September 14 in Pukekohe when the home side swamped the Otago defence in the second half. It was a case of Otago failing to match Counties-Manukau when it upped the intensity and pace of the game.
More of that tonight and there will be only one result.
Otago must simply stand strong when the home side attacks and this is where the experience of Smith and Ellison comes in handy.
Otago has left out hooker Sam Anderson-Heather, wanting to play both Tama Tuirirangi and Liam Coltman, with the explosive Shota Horie coming off the bench.
It is tough on Anderson-Heather, who has had a good season, but a place had to be found for the experienced Tuirirangi.
Counties-Manukau has made just one change to the team which beat Southland in last week's semifinal. Flanker Mark Selwyn comes into the team to replace Maama Vaipulu.
The match will be refereed by Keith Brown, in his final game before he heads into retirement.
Fine weather is expected at Pukekohe tonight.
Otago v Counties-Manukau
Pukekohe, tonight, 7.35pm
Referee: Keith Brown (Southland)
TAB odds: Counties-Manukau $1.50, Otago $2.45
Otago: Ben Smith, Marshall Suckling, Tamati Ellison, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Gareth Evans, Lee Allan, Adam Thomson, Rob Verbakel, Jackson Hemopo, Tama Tuirirangi, Liam Coltman, Aki Seiuli. Reserves: Shota Horie, Jacob Ellison, Adam Hill, TJ Ioane, Peter Breen, Jayden Spence, Tony Ensor.
Counties-Manukau: Tim Nanai-Williams, Tony Pulu, Rey Lee-Lo, Bundee Aki, Sherwin Stowers, Baden Kerr, August Pulu, Jimmy Tupou, DJ Forbes, Mark Selwyn, Daniel Adongo, Ronald Raaymakers, Matt Talaese, Mahonri Schwalger, Simon Lemalu. Reserves: Suilasi Taufalele, Maka Tatafu, Sikeli Nabou, Maama Vaipulu, David Bason, Kane Hancy, Tyrone Lefau.
