Eastern Harbour qualified second but, with a peak squad likely to be fielded this weekend, start as favourite to beat Mornington-Roslyn in the Dunedin premier interclub final today.
The return of Southland No 1 Amy Mulvey and junior Marlies Marthen could provide resistance to Otago representatives Emma Johns and Jessie Watson.
Dwayne Cleugh, the Mornington captain and No 1, is thinking positively about the tie.
"We are hoping Emma and Jessie can pick up the three women's rubbers and then we have got to try and pick up a couple in the men," he said.
But Eastern Harbour, with the experience of professional coach Shaun Paringitai, backed up by hardened veterans Phillip Mirfin and Ken Thomson, look to have solidity to test the largely younger Mornington squad in the men.
Cleugh has been unbeaten in club tennis, but juniors Matt Foo and Scott Campbell will have their work cut out with Mirfin and Thomson.
Harbour will use Jeremy Pearson at No 4.
Meanwhile, New Zealand's oldest club, Taieri, plays the third-oldest club, Green Island, in the men's section one final. Neither club has a premier team at this stage.
New Zealand No 2 Dan King-Turner has won his way into the semifinals of the $US15,000 ($NZ26,500) Pro Circuit event in Wellington with an upset victory over top seed and world No 193 Carsten Ball yesterday, NZPA reports.
King-Turner, ranked No 459, served, volleyed and charged the net at every opportunity to put away the Australian 6-2, 6-4.
