Otago Boys and Waitaki Boys are the heavy favourites to win this week's two big local derby First XV interschool rugby matches.
But the coaches are not taking a win for granted.
Otago Boys plays Kings at the University Oval at 1pm today and Waitaki Boys faces St Kevins at Whitestone Contracting Stadium in Oamaru at 1.30pm tomorrow.
Otago Boys has been in top form this season, has won eight of its nine games and is in third spot in the Highlanders secondary schools competition.
Its only loss was to South Otago High School, 25-10.
Kings is in the rebuilding stage with 12 members of its squad being year 11 pupils.
It has won three games and lost six in the Highlanders competition and is in eighth spot.
But Otago Boys coach Bevan Townsend is not taking a win for granted.
"We were in the same spot two years ago and they beat us," he said yesterday.
"It is a local derby and Kings players always grow an arm and a leg for the game. We will have to play well to beat them."
Otago Boys always has a strong pack, with nine members of the squad being country boys who live at the hostel at School House.
The Otago Boys team is captained by halfback Daniel Smart and the key players are flanker Blair Tweed, lock Joe Latta and goal-kicker Liam Edwards.
Kings coach Marty Gray conceded his team was the underdog because the school was in a rebuilding phase.
"We have been punching above our weight all season and will be going out to win the game," Gray said.
"The interschool game brings out the best in the boys. Our team has a lot of pride and passion and we are able to rise to the big occasion."
Waitaki Boys has won eight of its nine games and is lying second in the Highlanders competition.
St Kevins has only one win and eight losses, and is lying third last in the Highlanders competition.
Waitaki coach Peter Harland is pleased with his team.
Its only loss was to South Otago and it demolished Central Southland College 86-0 last Saturday.
"But that means nothing," he said. "This school game is always very close. I'm definitely not over-confident about our chances."
The captain of the St Kevins team is flanker Logan O'Connell, who is the son of former Otago representative James O'Connell.
Interschool rugby
The great rivalries:
Otago Boys v Kings
First game: 1938.
Record: 69 games, Otago Boys 43 wins, Kings 22 wins, four draws.
Captains: Daniel Smart (Otago Boys) and Luke Johnston (Kings).
Key Otago Boys players: Flanker Blair Tweed and lock Joe Latta.
Key Kings players: Midfielder Paul Tupai and halfback Caleb Gray.
Venue: University Oval, Dunedin, today, 1pm.
Waitaki Boys v St Kevins College
First game: 1934.
Record: 74 games, Waitaki Boys 49 wins, St Kevins 20 wins, five draws.
Captains: Sam Sturgess (Waitaki Boys) and Logan O'Connell (St Kevins).
Key Waitaki Boys players: Lock Jason Kingan, winger Neil Hill and first five-eighth Miles Medlicott.
Key St Kevins players: Prop Esafe Havea and No 8 Sean Conlan.
Venue: Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru, tomorrow, 1.30pm.
