History favours Waitaki Boys' High School, but form is with St Kevin's College for the 80th interschool rugby fixture to be played in Oamaru today.
St Kevin's has the initial boost, having beaten Waitaki Boys' 23-16 in a Highlanders First XV match, and having pushed St Bede's College in an interschool in Christchurch last month.
Waitaki Boys', like St Kevin's, made the top eight in the Highlanders First XV competition but has been beaten by King's High School and Southland Boys High School.
St Kevin's coach Justin Fowler said he would wait until today to make a couple of decisions over key players starting the match.
Loose forward and captain Jacob Coughlan has been battling a knee injury. He badly injured it last year but had got back on the paddock this season before taking a blow to it a couple of weeks ago.
Promising centres Matthew Vocea and Siua Ngaio are also carrying injuries and hopefully one will be able to play today.
Fowler said the victory last year by St Kevin's gave the team confidence for this afternoon's match.
The clash had been won by Waitaki Boys' for more than five years before St Kevin's got up last year.
Waitaki Boys' coach Ryan Bambry said the side's win over Menzies College last week was a good way to prepare for the interschool.
Waitaki had to grind out a win in Wyndham last week, and Bambry said if the game today followed a similar style, his team would be well placed.
He said the inside back combination of Matt Munro and Kieran McClea had been developing well.
The match will be the culmination of a day of activity between Waitaki Boys', St Kevin's and Waitaki Girls' High School, featuring competitions in football, hockey and netball, as well as debating, mathletics, a quiz and a spelling bee.
First XV interschool: Oamaru, today, 1.30pm
St Kevin's College: Alex Collier, Connor Newlands, Matthew Vocea or Siua Ngaio, Josh McAuley, Lukairnn Holden, Brady Kingan, Brodie Flannery, Filipo Veamatahau, Cole Ryan, Michael Lockley or Jacob Coghlan, Keegan Anderson, Chris Kearney, Kelepi Funaki, Fergus Smith, William Sunderland. Reserves: Liam Perriam, Paea Palaa, Antonio Misiloi, Levi Emery, Scott Weir, Sam Evans.
Waitaki Boys' High School: Logan Searle, Piliu Tavake, Loni Fisihoi (co-captain), William Saulala, Cameron McClea, Matt Munro, Kieran McClea, Hayden James, Josh Miller, Eroni Kivalu, Blake James, Josh Hayward, Meli Kolinisau, James Butler, Jake Greenslade (co-captain). Reserves: Andrew Morley, Kafa Katoa, Brad Gibb, Jayden Forbes, Jacob Pearce, Scott Paton, Sitafu Vea.
- Terry O'Neill and Steve Hepburn.
