Going down 10-41 in last year's final to the Blues has been a driver for the Chiefs in 2025 and has seen them twice beat them in 2025.
In their first game of the year, the Chiefs won 25-14, and then a month later in Hamilton, they got home 32-31 with a last-gasp Blues' conversion attempt missing.
Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan said, "You prepare all year to give yourself an opportunity to win a title, and it takes three big weeks to get the job done. We've got a talented Blues squad in front of us, which always brings a good edge. The group has some friendly rivalries, so there is a lot to be excited about.
"All teams bring different strengths to the table. They're the defending champions and have quality men littered throughout their team.
"You're not going to get anything for free and that alone makes sure your preparation is as deep as it needs to be."
While the Blues may not have been the force through the competition that they were last season, they still have a good set-piece, are physical on defence, and don't give opponents much. They have conceded the fewest number of tries in the competition.
"We're focused on preparing like it's a do-or-die match, it's a quarterfinal with a lot at stake and we're going to win the game."
Gideon Wrampling is to start at second five-eighths in a like-for-like replacement for the injured Quinn Tupaea, which allowed Daniel Rona to stay at centre.
Loose forward Wallace Sititi suffered an ankle injury towards the end of the Highlanders game last week and will come off the bench.
"He's taken a limited part in training through the front end of the week and, in a game of this magnitude, you need to have everybody firing on all cylinders."
McMillan said there was nothing complicated about the rivalry with the Blues; it was a case of mutual respect and knowing what they would bring to the contest.
The first five-eighths, Damian McKenzie for the Chiefs and Beauden Barrett for the Blues, are contenders for the All Blacks role this year and can change games instantly.
But the Chiefs would not be concentrating on individuals.
"There are individuals within every team who are central figures. But it starts up front.
"If we're able to put them under a little bit of pressure from Nos 1-8, that makes anybody's job if you're a nine [halfback] and 10 [first five-eighths], a little bit harder. That's what we're aiming to do."
Captain Luke Jacobson, who announced he had re-signed with the Chiefs this week, a decision he had made three months ago, said he still wanted to help the side win a couple of championships and to post 100 games.
Taking a possible first step towards a title would depend on dealing with the Blues' challenge on Saturday.
"We've got a final to play this week, and everything we've done in the regular season counts for nothing except home advantage.
"We've got a few different strengths we can go to. We've shown certain parts of that game throughout the season, but we need to be able to show it in the finals. We've got to keep growing and keep people on edge.
"We respect the Blues, they're a good team and we know they can play some quality football and we've got a heck of a match up."