Otago Boys' High School will start a warm favourite against King's High School in the First XV interschool at Littlebourne today.
The school will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year and coach Ryan Martin wants to win all the interschool games.
Otago Boys' had an exceptional year last winter and lost only one game - to St Kentigern College, 31-5, in the national final.
Otago Boys' is not expected to match the record 79-6 win against King's in last year's game at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
''The conditions at Littlebourne are not looking favourable for a running game,'' Martin said.
''We've been working hard on being confrontational. We did all the records last year. This year we are bringing in a bit of pain and hard grind,'' Martin said.
A key player in the Otago Boys' team this year is hooker and captain Sekonaia Pole, who was a member of the New Zealand secondary schools team last year.
A newcomer is No 8 Tui Katoa, who weighs 118kg. He was a prop in the Waitaki Boys' High School First XV last year.
Another key player in the front row is powerful tighthead prop Jermaine Ainsley. The backline features second five-eighth Sio Tomkinson, an accomplished kicker both for position and goal.
The central figure for the young King's team is captain and hooker Joe Cairns-Thomson, who has led his team with determination in the first two games. Others to watch in the pack are loosehead prop Sidney Fidow and talented openside flanker Jayden Willcock.
An experienced player in the backs is second five-eighth Robert Peseta, who is an accurate goal kicker. Centre Reece Te Pairi has flair and has scored a try in each of his side's first two games.
King's beat John McGlashan 27-15 in its first game but was beaten 20-14 by Waitaki Boys' in last week's midweek game.
First XV: Otago Boys' v King's
Venue: Littlebourne.
Time: Today, 1pm.
Otago Boys': Michael Williams, Jake Hamer, Hemaua Samasoni, Sio Tomkinson, Jackson Mitchell, Reece Mau'u, Matt Ellis, Tui Katoa, Riley McDowall, Jamie Mowat, Brendan Murdoch, George Latta, Jermaine Ainsley, Sekonaia Pole (captain), Jonah Aoina. Reserves: Luke Moeke, Liam Sharples, Kereama Eriepa, Matt Heffernan, Kadin Brocks, Alec Chapman, Chris McNoe.
King's: Luke Maker, Aranui Crofts, Reece Te Pairi, Robert Peseta, Daniel Stevens, Hamish McCallion, Eamon O'Brien, Mika Vaitupu, Jayden Willcock, Richie Buchanan, Liam Trainor, Logan Garforth, Himiona Wilson, Joe Cairns-Thomson (captain), Sidney Fidow. Reserves: George McKinlay, Jake McEwan, Hamish Taylor, Taylor Cumberland, Harrison Kemp, Bradley Thomson, Michael McCormack.
