Having both suffered defeats to open the new first division season last weekend, this Saturday shapes as a key match for the Mangere East Hawks and Marist Saints, as they look to avoid a sluggish start to 2018.
Marist stuck with the newly-promoted Otahuhu Leopards for much of the match in Round 1, but fell away badly in the closing exchanges to lose 30-6, while out south the Hawks were made to pay for a slow start against Northcote, which meant they were always on the back foot in an eventual 28-10 defeat.
Both among the youngest teams in the SAS Fox Memorial Premiership this year, Saturday's match at Walter Massey Park will see some of New Zealand's best emerging talent face off in the country's best domestic competition.
Tune in live from 2pm, with the match kicking off at 2.30pm.
