The Ranfurly Shield has had three different homes in the last three weeks - Christchurch, New Plymouth and Dunedin - and there is a good chance it will be heading to Napier on Sunday.
Hawke's Bay celebrate their win over Canterbury Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Hawke's Bay will challenge holders Otago hoping that for the second straight week the "Log-o-Wood" will be moving after just a week.
It was a similar situation in 2013 when Otago lifted the Shield with a win over Waikato, losing it the next week to Hawke's Bay, who in turn lost it a week later to Counties-Manukau.
Hawke's Bay are coming off an impressive Mitre 10 Cup win over Canterbury, their first in 37 years and their coach Mark Ozich says much of their success in recent years can be put down to having a consistent group of players.
"We've worked really hard with our group over the last three years to keep the core guys there, there hasn't been a lot of rotation or guys moving away so the relationship has already formed."
"We have a strong leadership group that know the coaching staff and we know them so we don't have to re-establish ourselves and our goals and values - we know who we are and our identity, and it flows really nicely," said Ozich.
Ozich realises that Otago aren't going to give up the Shield lightly and he was impressed with Otago's win over Taranaki last weekend.
"They've already had their hands on the Shield a couple of times in the last couple of years and they know what it takes to win it and retain it with the energy and intensity.
"Playing at Forsyth Barr Stadium under the roof, the ball is in play a lot longer and it's noisy so there are so many factors in favour of them."
Ozich says as a squad they've not talked much about the Shield this week.
"If we get outcome focused around what potentially is on the line then you fail to prepare and so these guys need to do their job first. If they do their jobs well, then they give themselves a chance but if we all think about the Ranfurly Shield and we romanticise around what could happen then often you get your pants pulled down and we don't want that."
Otago celebrate with the Shield Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Ozich says there is some real interest in the Ranfurly Shield, particularly in the smaller regions.
"You just have to look at the people that turned out at Dunedin airport to welcome home Otago, so it's created more interest in the community and the wider rugby community."
"Those conversations with dads and their sons (about the history) of the shield about the tradition and why rugby is alive and well in the provinces."
"Whatever happens in the future for provincial rugby, the pride for the regions will always be there and so will the Ranfurly Shield."
Hawke's Bay were beaten by Bay of Plenty in the Championship final last year, and currently sit top of the Championship standings.
Ozich says while they realise the Shield is there, his players have to concentrate on the season.
"There are five championship points on the line this weekend and so our priority is to prepare well. If we do what we have to do, then the by-product will be five points in the bank and the Ranfurly Shield, but we don't want to look at the outcome we want to look at the process."
Hawke's Bay took the Shield off Otago in 2013, but then lost it to Counties-Manukau in the next challenge.
They won it again in 2014 and successfully defended it 11 times.
Hawke's Bay last challenged for the shield in 2018 against Waikato.
