They may be mates off the field, but friendly rivalry will kick into overdrive this Saturday when the top two Baywide Premier teams clash in what's expected to be a typically fierce battle between the long-term rivals.

Tauranga Sports head deep into Te Puke territory at Murray Salt Stadium in a local derby match that's set to bring weeks of mud, sweat and tears in the 2015 Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby competition to an end.

Tauranga Sports captain Carl Axtens and Te Puke Sports captain Tim Bond. Photo by Chris Callinan.

Speaking to The Weekend Sun this week, both captains played down the banter between teams.

'It's been pretty low key,” says Tauranga Sports captain Carl Axtens. 'We haven't been giving each other too much stick lately.”

Te Puke Sports captain Tim Bond says he and Carl haven't said too much between them.

'We definitely see each other as top sides in the Baywide competition,” admits Tim. 'There is respect there but everyone likes to dish out a bit of stick now and again.”

‘Now and again' was at ASB Baypark earlier this week, when the boys kindly turned up for a photo shoot with The Weekend Sun, posing for the camera with the Baywide trophy.

'You're holding on to that trophy pretty tight there boy,” one captain said. 'He can hold on to it as much as he likes because come Saturday it'll be a whole other story.”

It's a long time between bragging rights for both teams, with Te Puke winning back-to-back titles in 2011 and 2012, and Tauranga Sports last lifting the trophy in 2013.

It will be uncharted territory this weekend as both teams look to clear a spot in their trophy cabinets for the Baywide title they each fell to last year.

It's the biggest game of the season, but both sides are sticking to what they know when they pull on their respective jerseys and take to the field for Saturday's final.

With Te Puke's undefeated 2015 record hanging over their heads, Tauranga Sports won't let the opposition's good form effect their play.

'It's all good,” says Carl. 'We're pretty comfortable. We've just got to make sure we do our thing right on Saturday instead of going away from what we do and playing rugby that we haven't played before.

'We're still sticking to the stuff we've done all season and we're just trying to make ourselves much more accurate and being clinical in what we do.”

Te Puke Sports' captain Tim says they won't be changing their game plan much either.

'It's a pretty set piece,” he explains, 'and we'll be focusing on that and looking to have a really physical type of game.”

Saturday's clash will be Carl's first Baywide final, and he knows it's not just another game of rugby.

'It's going to be a big day,” says Carl. 'We know that they [Te Puke] are a really good, forward-orientated team. They've got some experienced guys in there. I'm sure they're going to bring it to us up front.

'They sort of had it over us the last time we played so we're definitely looking to match them at set pieces.

'Te Puke is one of the main games of our season and one of the games where we focus on getting a win under our belt. But it'll be hard.”

Te Puke's Tim would like to admit playing on home soil will give them an advantage, but he's aware of the big support that Tauranga are bound to bring with them to the final.

'Tauranga are normally pretty organised and pretty structured about the way they go about things,” he says.

'They'll have a decent attack set up. Their first phase is always pretty dangerous so we'll be looking at trying to keep a lid on that.”

Both teams have come through the season reasonably injury-free, with everyone up for selection on Saturday.

Te Puke Sports coach Craig Jeffries says finals week is pretty exciting especially with both Premier and Development teams playing at home.

'It's the talk of the town,” says Craig, 'and hosting all three finals is huge for the community. We have a couple of injuries from the weekend, but we have some good depth in the squad so it shouldn't be a problem.

'But nevertheless we know it's a mighty challenge in front of us. The boys are fizzing and looking forward to getting out there and get the day started.”

Tauranga Sports coach Mike Rogers says this week their focus has been on getting their set piece right.

'We're confident that if we can get enough quality ball we will be in with a chance,” admits Mike. 'In terms of how we play, not a lot will change for us.

'We like to attack and will certainly be going into the game with that mind-set. It's a big challenge for us against Te Puke, they are deserved title favourites and we are going to have to be at our very best get an upset.”

So it all comes down to the final 80 minutes. Will Te Puke claim home victory? Or will Tauranga be driving down the State Highway having snatched the trophy in Te Puke's backyard?

Meanwhile, the Te Puke Development side has led the way throughout the Baywide season and will also take an unbeaten record into the title decider. Standing in their way of a Development title is defending champions Tauranga Sports.

Rangiuru will come up against Arataki at Centennial Park for the Bayfair Baywide Division 1 title at 2.45pm.

The Bayfair Baywide Development Game kicks off at 12.30pm at Murray Salt Stadium. The Premier game starts 2.45pm. Ground entry is $5, while school-aged children are free.