Form guide.
Auckland losing is more important than Wakatio winning, just like Collingwood losing was more important than the that other team winning in the AFL (most people in this FT competion seem to be in Oz)

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BAY OF PLENTY
The Steamers are battle-hardened after nine weeks of First Division rugby - and will be the better for it in the promotion-relegation match. Remember this is the team that beat Otago and lost by just five points to Canterbury. They will be hot favourites to win this one.

HAWKES BAY
Have gone through the Second Division unbeaten after their impressive 37-16 win over Counties-Manukau in last week's Final and the Magpies are flying high. But the team knows they have one more big match ahead. If they get up and beat Bay of Plenty on their home turf it will be one of the upsets of the Air New Zealand NPC

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WAIKATO
The form team of the Air New Zealand NPC looks as impressive at the end of the competition as it did at the beginning. With just the one loss to Otago and the 25-16 win over Auckland in Round 7, the Mooloos will be favourites. But this is the Final - and anything can happen.

AUCKLAND
Rugby purists were awed by the way the Auckland team beat Canterbury. Watching players with ball in hand taking on defenders and offloading to players in gaps was fantastic to watch. The only thing is that's how Waikato plays as well. Shaping as a classic game of rugby between two of the game's powerhouses.

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NORTH OTAGO
North Otago has sent a chilling message to Horowhenua-Kapiti: we beat South Canterbury 58-10 in our semi; you struggled to a 20-18 win in your one. Fourth final in six years for North Otago and third in a row - they want this one and on form should get it

HOROWHENUA-KAPITI
A dramatic 20-18 win over King Country had the Levin locals jumping but they will need to lift their game to bowl North Otago at home. But this team has spirit and they will want to erase the memories of the 40-0 hiding North Otago dished out in the round-robin.