Wanganui coach Jason Caskey may well have his spies deployed at Spriggens Park on February 25.
That's when Ranfurly Shield opponents Taranaki roll into town for a pre-season shindig with Wellington.
With union budgets getting ever tightened, the ITM Cup prospects are cutting costs by meeting halfway for the game.
Originally planned as an academy game, it is now billed as Taranaki A v Wellington A and will likely feature some players who will be on Shield duty later in the season.
Taranaki coach Colin Cooper will be looking to gauge the form of some of his fringe players ahead of a first Shield defence against King Country on July 24 and then a Shield showdown with Meads Cup winners Wanganui at Yarrow Stadium on August 4.