Rugby: Rivals line-up in 'Battle of Rotorua'

Marist St Michael's player Paul Josevata and his team are aiming for revenge against Waikite.

It will be the "battle of Rotorua" when Marist St Michael's host what could be a fiery derby clash tomorrow.

They take on old rivals Waikite in round four of the Premier 2 competition.

Marist St Michael's lost 33-5 away to Opotiki last weekend whilst Waikite were beaten 19-0 at home by Paroa.

Marist St Michael's captain Daniel Pearce said he was wary of Waikite's "big hitting" front line.

"They will be very hard up front and we have to compete straight away to make sure their front line isn't turning over possession or causing us to make mistakes," he said.

"The first half will be critical because whoever takes the upper hand into the break is likely to push on and win.

"Mistakes cost us in our last game. We actually had more of the possession but couldn't capitalise from good positions.

"Our handling errors then led to a few break away tries against us and we can't afford to do that again because Waikite have a very fast backline which could punish us."

Waikite beat Marist St Michael's narrowly at the start of the season and finished two points ahead of Marist St Michael's in third, at the end of round one.

But head coach Carl Marsters said his team needed to be more clinical having yet to pick up a victory in the newly formatted competition.

"It will be the battle of Rotorua. We know we can beat them but St Michael's have definitely stepped up their game and they have a very strong and experienced forward pack," he said.

"I think we have lost our structure in our recent games and we need to make sure we keep composed and aren't over-physical.

"We will be tightening up our forward pack and making sure to complete those final passes. We have to get our backline into the game.

"It's very important for both sides to get a win. We have had opportunities in previous weeks but haven't showed enough patience when it really mattered. We must start to do that."

Marist St Michael's are in sixth place on four points with Waikite bottom of the table level on two points with Ngongotaha.

Top of the table Whakarewarewa take on third-placed Poroporo at home on the back of three empathic wins while seventh-placed Ngongotaha have a difficult test as they host second place Paroa.

Tomorrow's draw:

Baywide Premier 1
Kick-off 2.45pm/Development kick-off 1pm
Rotoiti v Te Puna, Emery Park
Mount Maunganui v Whakatane Marist, Blake Park
Greerton Marist v Tauranga Sports, Greerton Park
Te Puke v Rangataua, Murray Salt Stadium

Baywide Premier 2
Kick-off 2.45pm/Development kick-off 1pm
Marist St Michael's v Waikite, Marist Park
Whakarewarewa v Poroporo, Puarenga Park
Ngongotaha v Paroa, Ngongotaha Domain
Arataki v Opotiki, Arataki Park

Baywide Division 1
Kick-off 2.45pm
Edgecumbe v Kahukura, Edgecumbe Domain
Papamoa v Rangiuru, Gordon Spratt Reserve
Ruatoki v Judea, Tuhoe Park
Katikati v Te Teko, Moore Park