Southland will host one of its biggest rugby league matches in its 108-year history on Saturday.

The Southland Rams host Waikato in the New Zealand Rugby League Championship decider at Elles Road Park at 4pm.

Both teams have recorded two wins each in the competition so far and the winning side will travel to the home of rugby league in the country, Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland for a promotion/relegation battle next Saturday.

SIMON O'CONNOR/Fairfax NZ The Southland Rams will be hoping for better conditions against Waikato in the NZ Rugby League Championship game this weekend.

There they will face the fourth-placed premiership team, which is likely to be the Wellington Orcas, for a place in the top echelon of NZ rugby league in 2017 against teams like Canterbury, Akarana and Counties-Manukau.

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The match will be the curtain-raiser to the NZ Rugby League Premiership final.

SIMON O'CONNOR/Fairfax NZ A Southland Rams player fends off a Taranaki player in their NZ Rugby League Championship match.

The Southland team based at the humble Elles Road Park have exceeded most people's expectations to remain unbeaten so far in 2016.

They claimed the South Island regional competition ahead of Tasman, West Coast and Otago and have defeated Canterbury Development and Taranaki in the championship.

What lies ahead is a strong Waikato team, but given what has happened so far this season anything is possible.

Kavinda Herath/Fairfax NZ The Southland Rams will be hoping for a win against Waikato in the NZ Rugby League Championship.

Waikato thumped Taranaki 62-4 and accounted for Canterbury Development 20-4 in recent weeks, while Southland toppled Canterbury Development 26-16 and Taranaki 22-8.

There are just 120 senior registered players in Southland and four club teams who battle for local club supremacy, but that has become a strength of this Rams team.

Their close knit community has come together on a shoestring budget along with the ILT and Community Trust of Southland funding.

John Hawkins/Fairfax NZ Former Southland District Rugby League president Cheryl Officer.

Southland District Rugby League treasurer Jonathan Bringins puts the success of the Rams down to the hard work of the team, coaching staff and manager, along with the strong league community bond.

"On a Sunday the players play hard, but when the whistle blows everyone comes together."

"I also feel that league has to fight for any recognition and this gives the community a strong work commitment and a realisation that you have to work very hard for results."

Bringins is proud of the achievement of the team just to make the championship competition.

"To be able to play in the championship competition is an amazing effort and something we could only dreamed of at the beginning of the season," he said.

"If my information is correct this is the first time that Southland have been in this position, one win away from the premier grade."

"It shows that there are pathways for our young men who are very talented rugby league players and that this is a viable option for them."

The magnitude of the event is not lost on former Southland District Rugby League president Cheryl Officer.

"This would be the biggest game that the Rams have been a part of in recent history," she said.

"To go unbeaten this season so far has exceeded our expectations."

"Regardless of the result on Saturday it is laying the platform for league to grow and development in the coming years in Southland."

Saturday's match will be a career highlight for many players involved, as Waikato have never played in Southland before, while until this season's new competition, Southland hadn't played a North Island team since 1994.

At a glance

What: NZ Rugby League Championship

When: Saturday, 4pm

Where: Elles Road Park, Invercargill

Cost: Gold coin donation

Southland Rams: Heath Roberts, Ramera Chambers, Logotaeao Peteru, Maehe Ratema, Stacey Mikara, Javaan Fa'amoe-Ioane, Jayleel Fa'amoe-Ioane, Willy Pera, Daniel Low, Logoafiafi Peteru, Kieran Turuwhenua, Chezevan Cameron, Dylan Lovett.

Interchange: Uesiliana Kuresa, Lima Leiataua, Brandon Hiko, Junior Toparea.

Waikato: Aaron Jolley, Morgan Harper, Faa Leilua, Jordan Tai Rakena, Teina Ngahiwi, Nick Read, Te Puhi Rudolph, Eru Keepa, Troy Waters, Chris Fox, Dana Ratu, Zane Milliken, Terry Kopua.

Interchange: Malcolme Noda, Teina Simona, Piripi Parangi, Namu Puru.