Expect the clash between the two centres to be a highlight of tonight's Hawke's Bay Women's Club Rugby Championship final at Napier's McLean Park.

That's been the talk since the fixture between defending champions Napier Technical and unbeaten top qualifiers Clive Rugby and Sports was booked as the curtain-raiser to the Hurricanes match against the Western Force.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's Women's High-Performance manager Mary-Jane Durkin confirmed the tussle between Tech's Michaela Baker, 26, (pictured above right) and Clive's 16-year-old Leilani Hakiwai (pictured above left) has the potential to be a cracker.

"Michaela is an experienced Tui while Leilani is likely to make her debut for the Tui this season," Durkin said.

A Traditional Maori Games co-ordinator for Sport Hawke's Bay, Baker, said while the Texans lost convincingly in the first match between the two teams this season they closed the gap in the second.

"This week will be a strong battle. While Clive has fitness and good ball skills we will have a chance if we take them on upfront," Baker said.

She ranked Hakiwai (pictured below) as "one of the best players in Hawke's Bay."

Tech player-coach and first five-eighth Chanel Atkin was confident her troops could cause an upset.

"We lost 11 players from last year's squad. But we've slowly rebuilt and are peaking at the right time," Atkin said.

Hakiwai is in her first season of union. She played rugby league on the Gold Coast before her family returned to the Bay two years ago.

A granddaughter of Paul Hakiwai who is still considered one of the toughest homegrown players to turn out for the Hawke's Bay Unicorns rugby league team, Hakiwai, is enjoying the code switch.

"I'm really enjoying the good vibe in the Clive side. We're all so close ... we're like one whanau."

"While I'm hoping to play for the Tui this year I will understand if I don't get the chance as I'm still young," Hakiwai said.

She played in a secondary schools fixture on McLean Park last year and rates the venue.

"It's a good field. But I might be a bit nervous this week as the crowd will be bigger."

While the Bay's women's club championship will be decided today the third round in Hawke's Bay's Maddison Trophy premier club competition will be played tomorrow.

Taradale Rugby and Sports will host Central Rugby and Sports in the feature match of the Mighty Maroons club day at the Tareha Recreation Reserve. Defending champions Hastings Rugby and Sports will host neighbours Tamatea Rugby and Sports at Elwood Park, Napier Technical will host Napier Old Boys Marist at Whitmore Park and MAC will host Clive Rugby and Sports at Flaxmere Park.

Teams for the 4.14pm Hawke's Bay Women's Championship Cup final:
Clive Rugby and Sports: Nicolette Adamson, Airini Gillies, Leilani Hakiwai, Te Maari MacGregor, Danielle Mackay, Shaylee Tipiwai, Lisa Grant, Deidre Hakopa, Laurae Blake, Niamh Jefferson, Cherish Maui-Asosa, Rebekah Hurae, Iaesha Puata, Jessie Taueki, Laura Parsons.
Substitutes: Amy Williams, Jaimee Robin, Kara Huata, Jannali Johnson, Hine Andersen, Holly MacDonald, Raedeen Blake.
Napier Technical: Juliette Lolofie, Amaia Te Hau, Michaela Baker, Imij Huata, Tori Iosefo, Chanel Atkin, Gemma Woods, Kat Brown, Tamia Edwards, Teagen Meyer, Rachel Horton, Treyanna Faulkner, Heaven Spooner, Davina Atkin, Jen Simati.
Substitutes: Juliana Lolofie, Tarita Aiolupotea, Harata Kenny, Chazz Te Hei, Jody Tarsau Walters, Jordan Baker, Kiara Lavao Purotu, Christine Lavao.