Let it rain. Let it pelt down with rain.
That's the message Brumbies coach Jake White gave New Zealand press when asked if Hamilton's dodgy weather forecast concerned him ahead of Saturday's Super Rugby final against the Chiefs.
"The Chiefs have got the most offloads, the most tries (in the competition), so I hope it's pelting down," White said.
"There's no doubt that rain will be a leveller."
Slippery weather conditions at a sold-out Waikato Stadium are less likely to disrupt the Brumbies, as their kicking game plan relies on forcing a penalty or turnover in good field position through the likes of departing veteran flanker George Smith.
The South African-flavoured style has yielded them more penalty goals than any other side this year, many of which have come from the boot of icy-cool kicker and former Waikato player Christian Lealiifano.
But even if it does bucket down, winning a final in Hamilton against the defending champions will be a tall order for the Brumbies.
No Australian or South African side has ever won any type of finals match in New Zealand in the competition's 18-year history.
The Brumbies have also had a gruelling four-week travel schedule that is similar to what the Sharks were forced to endure before falling to the Chiefs in the final last year.
Yet White seems more than happy to trumpet the underdog card.
"We've got no chance, we've travelled around the world, we've been in four time zones in four weeks," he said.
"But, that is what the romance of sport is all about."
One factor in White's favour is the luxury of naming an unchanged Brumbies 22 for his third consecutive week.
The Brumbies look to be peaking, and another game with unchanged combinations might see them step up another notch from their historical 26-23 underdog win against the Bulls in Pretoria last week.
While the Chiefs have also named an unchanged 22 following their 20-19 semi-final win against the Crusaders, they're sweating over the fitness of star winger Lelia Masaga.
The one-Test All Black averages the most metres per carry in the competition, and showcased his unrivalled talent for keeping his feet last week when he barged over three Crusaders players to score the opening try.
Outside backs like Masaga work seamlessly off silky skilled five-eighth Aaron Cruden, and their punishing attack has scored more tries than any other this year despite having the least amount of possession.
Masaga, captain Craig Clarke, Toby Smith, Richard Kahui and Brendon Leonard are all departing the club at the end of the season.
If victorious they'll become just the fourth club to win back-to-back titles, while a Brumbies win would elevate them to Super Rugby's second most successful franchise with three championship titles and three runners-up.
