Bay of Plenty and Northland have agreed to play their NPC championship fixture as scheduled on Sunday, despite the fallout from Sean Wainui's tragic death this week.
The encounter will be staged at Tauranga Domain, not far from the scene of the car accident that claimed Wainui's life, with both teams - but particularly the hometown Steamers - still reeling from the news.
The Māori All Blacks and Chiefs star has left Tauranga for a tangi at his birthplace near Gisborne, leaving his teammates to somehow regroup and continue their campaign.
While the Bay of Plenty camp has locked down this week, Northland coach George Konia is keenly aware of the challenge facing both teams.
"There are going to be a lot of emotions for the different people involved," he says. "Probably, at the end of the day, how do we best honour and respect Sean's memory?
"I think it's about going out there and playing with the passion and pride that both provinces want to show out of mutual respect for Sean and his memory. Obviously, there are competition points still at stake, but outside of that, both teams just want to go out there and put in a really good performance to honour his memory."
The Taniwha have been based at Tauranga since Northland was placed at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 earlier this month, so they have been at 'ground zero' of this week's horror.
"A number of our players were very close with Sean," says Konia. "In this situation, it is very hard for them and it's very important that we support those players.
"The biggest thing we can do is be there and ready for them when they want to talk."
Both teams are planning a tribute to Wainui before kickoff, which will only add to the poignancy of the occasion.
"We're definitely keen on doing something special to honour his memory and the man that he was," says Konia. "Hopefully, you will see that before the game and we're working closely with Bay of Plenty to sort something out there."
Whether all Bay of Plenty's players will take the field remains to be seen. As the All Blacks prepare for their northern tour opener against USA Eagles at Washington DC, management have offered to excuse anyone struggling with their news of their friend's death back home.
"If there was someone that couldn't play, because mentally it was just too tough, then absolutely," says assistant coach John Plumtree. "But, I don't think you'll find that.
"I think you'll find that Sean would have wanted all those boys to be available for this test match. I'll be surprised if one of them didn't want to play."
A Givealittle page set up by the Chiefs has raised almost $200,000 since it was posted on Wednesday morning.
"Sean Wainui was an incredible rugby player, father, husband and proud of his Māori heritage," the Chiefs wrote on the fundraising page.
"Once a Chief, always a Chief."
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