It's the biggest game this town's ever seen, and Super Rugby champions the Highlanders were keen to put on a good show.
That's because 79-year-old Waimumu farmer Fred Booth agreed to let turf experts convert one of his cattle grazing paddocks into a boutique rugby ground.
"It's an awesome paddock and they've done a great job, and it's a great turf to play on," Highlanders centre Tei Walden said.
Mr Booth's contribution was rewarded with a prime spot on the halfway line -- and he maintains it was absolutely worth all the effort.
Organisers of the Southern Field Days came up with the idea, and thousands of show visitors enjoyed the match alongside local fans.
"Yeah nah it's bloody good -- they should have had it years ago," spectator Steve Wilson said.
"Very good for the community and well supported I feel," Crusaders fan John Carswell said.
The early evening game was good timing for families and supporters of all ages.
Early rain softened up the hard ground a little, but it made handling more difficult.
"It was like real slippery so I kept on sliding around the place," Highlanders winger Patrick Osborne said.
Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock also struggled with the conditions.
"I think they might have had the rollers on it, it was a little bit like a cricket pitch there at the start," he said.
The South Island rivals eventually shared preseason honours with a 19-19 draw.
"You wouldn't be honest but disappointed if I didn't say we wanted to win that match. And I guess right up until the last five minutes I think we had that game," Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said.
The Highlanders have already booked a return match at Fred Booth Park -- but that won't be until the next Field Days in 2018.
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