Only one certainty will come from tonight's Taranaki/Manawatu Ranfurly Shield clash at Yarrow Stadium - Whanganui will be sandwiched between the winner and loser.
The Port Taranaki Bulls won the Ranfurly Shield in sensational fashion against Canterbury and will go out to "win it again" when they take on the Manawatu Turbos and funny enough, Whanganui will again be in the frame in New Plymouth.
Taranaki have named former Whanganui players Waisake Naholo and Stephen Perofeta in their starting line-up, while former Steelform Wanganui Heartland fullback Te Rangatira Waitokia is on the bench for Manawatu.
All three bring strong backgrounds to the paddock with Naholo an All Black winger, Perofeta's been a Blue, beaten the Lions and won the U20 World Cup this year. Waitokia is still trying to establish himself in the Turbos - not an easy task with Nehe Milner-Skudder having briefly been back in the squad. Waitokia, however, was the 2016 Heartland player of the year and is an exciting playmaker.
While the Port Taranaki Bulls are strong favourites to retain the shield they only took from Canterbury last weekend, coach Colin Cooper is not convinced it is a one-sided affair.