Chiefs and Sharks seeking first title

The Chiefs and Sharks are both seeking their first Super Rugby titles in tonight's final in Hamilton.

Including Natal's first two years of Super Rugby, it's nine wins to eight in favour of the Durban-based sides against the Chiefs.

Since 2000, eight games between the two sides have been decided by seven points or less, and that could continue if the forecast rain lingers Hamilton tonight.

Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna's out to prove he's no rookie in tonight's final.

A relative unknown at the start of the season, the 20-year-old has been a mainstay at prop in a season where he spent time in All Blacks training camps.

He's made every post a winner in his debut season, with the chance to cap it off with victory over the Sharks in the decider.

A bold Tameifuna says he wants to make a statement.

"I'll just be focusing on being a real tough bastard, not taking any shit from anyone and just they could be old guys, I can still step up to it."

He says there's more to come.

"There's always room for improvement but I'm pretty proud of what I've done and where I've come from and I couldn't have got here without the hard work I've done when I was in school and when I've left school."

But the Sharks are confident they've done everything they can to minimise the effect of their hectic travel ahead of tonight's Super Rugby final.

Much has been made of the Sharks having crossed the Indian Ocean three times in the past three weeks, but coach John Plumtree says they've coped as best they can.

"I think a couple of days in Sydney was a really good idea, just broke that trip up and we've put a real big emphasis on our recovery this week, just making sure we get those bodies right."

A sellout crowd of just over 25,000 will watch the first ever final in Hamilton which kicks off at 7:35pm.

Photo: PhotoSport