No two sides in the competition boast the history, at least recently, of the Bulls and Blue Boars. It is a fixture the players look forward to, and equally both clubs’ supporters.

The Blue Boars had the Bulls’ measure last season winning two of their three clashes, the second by just a point. Exemplifying the titanic tussles the two sides have enjoyed over the years, the other was a draw.

“We’ve always had a great rivalry with Moree,” Narrabri coach Dylan Duncan said.

“There’s nothing better that going to Moree and beating Moree.”

Extolling the others’ virtues, both sides are expecting a tough encounter.

“You have to play your best to beat them,” Duncan said.

“Moree never give you the game,” Duncan said.

For both he and his Bulls counterpart Dave Silversides it will be their first derby holding the coaching pad.

“Narrabri are always very good at the contact area,” Silversides said.

He’s also expecting the Blue Boars backline to be “fairly potent”.

Last weekend’s Country Championships has taken a toll on the Bulls with Kyle O’Connor (ankle), Sam Callow (collarbone) and Dan Sweeney (hand) all sustaining injuries, and looking at several weeks of the sidelines.

As big a blow as they are though, it has given Silversides the opportunity to get a look at a few more players in what is a big transition period for the club.

He said Saturday will give them “a pretty clear picture” of where they are at, and highlighted getting their defence in order as the first priority.

“At this early stage of the year it’s about getting your defensive pattern nice and solid,” he said.

The Blue Boars also have a couple of concerns from the Country Champs, but more a few niggles than anything too serious.

Mitch Wheaton and Mitch Cuell will pair up in a new-look second row, while Percy Duncan makes his first first grade appearance this season at outside centre.

“At the moment we think that’s where he’s best suited for us,” Duncan said.

“He’s a good defender and really good attacker.”

Duncan (Dylan) said it was hard to take too much from their first round win over Barraba, but they will go in confident, especially in their attack.

“Our attack will be the thing this year, we’ve got a lot of speed in our side,” he said.

They have too undergone a lot of changes but as long as they defend well and don’t give the Bulls the space to operate, Duncan believes they can certainly get the result.