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Karaka and Patumahoe will each look to secure an elusive McNamara Cup title on Saturday as the competition’s two leading sides square off in the decider at Navigation Homes Stadium.

Karaka will be chasing a rare perfect season, having won all 12 of their round robin games before beating Bombay in the semi-finals last weekend.

Coach Craig Hill will be desperate to secure a second McNamara Cup for his beloved club after triumphing in 2021, particularly after the heart-break of losing at the death in last year’s final and countless tales of what ifs in championship games over the past decade or more.

“Every person that has ever been involved in these finals will know whether you have won or lost how hard they are to win,” Hill told Counties Sports Hub. “This won’t be any different.

“We will need to play for the full 80. There have been times in every game where we have lapsed, and the opposition has had the better of us.

“To the boys’ credit they have finished well and that will need to happen again.

“A win for us would cap off what has been a remarkable season for the team and the club in general. There’s a long way to go for that to happen.”

Patumahoe will chase a fourth McNamara Cup crown but their first since 2012. They too have had their fair share of heart-break in recent seasons.

Coach Brad Healy took a perfect season into the 2022 championship finale only to be beaten by Manurewa in a close battle.

That follows an extra-time loss to Ardmore Marist in 2018 and semi-final exits throughout the past decade.

History counts for nothing on Saturday of course, and both teams have reasons for being optimistic.

“We need to show up and win our moments,” Healy said. “If we can do that, we will give ourselves a chance of winning.”

Karaka will take on Papakura in the Bob Chandler Cup Premier Development final, to be played as the curtain-raiser at Navigation Homes Stadium.

Karaka are looking to go back-to-back having won the grade last season and come in as overwhelming favourites.

Papakura have built nicely throughout the season and took care of Pukekohe on the road last weekend in the semi-finals.

The top two sides in the Sid Marshall Shield meet on Saturday when Weymouth hosts Waiuku at Laurie Gibbons Reserve.

Te Kauwhata will need to beat defending champions Drury if they are to maintain a chance of playing in the semi-finals, while Manurewa and Maramarua meet in a must-win game for both sides.

Neighbours Onewhero and Tuakau meet up the hill while Puni hosts Te Kohanga.

In the U85kg grade, Patumahoe hosts neighbours Karaka, Waiuku travels to Drury and Onewhero is at home to Beachlands Maraetai.