With the early sparring out of the way we have our top eight Bay of Plenty rugby teams and this weekend the battle for superiority commences.
Of the Rotorua teams, it will once again be Whakarewarewa and 2017 finalists Rotoiti who play in Premier 1.
In the 12-team first round, Whakarewarewa won six of 11 games to finish eighth, a comfortable 15 points ahead of Ngongotahā in ninth. Their scalps included Tauranga Sports and Te Puke, who finished second and third respectively.
This weekend they play Greerton, who beat them 23-16 in miserably wet conditions in round one.
Whakarewarewa coach Boxer Smith said everyone involved was putting a focus on building the culture of the club as a whole.
"We want to put a bit of pride and mana back into our jersey and that's through the whole club. It's whānau inclusive, so that's partners and kids as well, it's not just about the players. We try to go down to support the women's team and vice versa, it's the whole club.
"On Saturday our premier players went down to our junior rugby as well. To these kids, they think our prems are heroes, they aspire to be like them," Smith said.
The Whakarewarewa backs, in particular, were hoping for drier conditions than last time the two sides met.
"Obviously [Greerton] are on a high as well, winning seven in a row, so there will be a lot of confidence there. I think it's going to be a big game and both teams will be after that good start, trying to get those first points on the board," he said.
Whakarewarewa's Pauli Asaeli makes a barnstorming run against Greerton in round one. Photo / Stephen Parker
Meanwhile, Rotoiti picked up eight wins and a draw on their way to a fourth place finish in round one. This weekend they play Tauranga Sports who hammered them 58-15 in Tauranga early in the first round.
Coach Richard Francis said his side's short-term focus was on starting the second round well, while in the long-term they wanted to lock up a top-two spot and a home semifinal, as they did last year.
"It's all about winning - winning every game now to try to finish top two.
"It starts with this game and we were pretty well beaten in round one. That was quite early in the season and it's a different story playing at home. Hopefully we can turn the tables and get a good start in this round - get a jump start on everyone and get the noses in front," Francis said.
He said every game was a hard game in the second round.
"Anyone can beat anyone. We were able to rest five or six key players last weekend against Paroa, so we're looking pretty fresh for this one. We'll continue to improve on last weekend's performance by playing to our strengths and sticking to our structures we have been practicing."
Farmlands Co-operative Baywide Club Rugby Draw
Premier 1 Saturday (Premier kickoff: 2.45pm, Development kickoff: 1pm): Greerton Marist v Whakarewarewa at Greerton Park Rangataua v Te Puna at Te Ariki Park Rotoiti v Tauranga Sports at Emery Park Mount Maunganui Sports v Te Puke Sports at Blake Park
Premier 2 Saturday (Premier Kick-off: 2.45pm; Development Kick-off: 1pm): Waikite v Te Teko at Bellvue Road Rangiuru v Ngongotaha at Centennial Park Whakatane Marist v Arataki at Rugby Park Opotiki v Paroa at Princess Street Reserve
Division One Saturday (Kickoff: 2.45pm): Kahukura v Murupara at Kuirau Park Ruatoki v Papamoa at Tuhoe Park Marist St Michael's v Poroporo at Marist Park Waimana v Judea at Waimana Domain
