THEY have kept the trophy as a guest at the Bassett St courts for two winters, but Wanganui's Christie Cup team are bracing for a big raid from the Manawatu this Sunday.
Having won the cup for the first time in 50 years against Taranaki in November 2012, Wanganui have fended off challenges from their two bigger provincial neighbours since then and are now hunting an unprecedented third summer holding the trophy.
However, three of the key players from this streak - Emma Hayman, Paige Hourigan and Victor Romero - will not be available for the squad on Sunday.
The professional coach Romero and nationally-ranked Hayman committed to Christie Cup for Wanganui at the same time a very strong youth brigade - led by Hourigan and her cousin Kyle Butters - were climbing through the ranks.
Hayman is currently playing and coaching in Australia while Hourigan is having an excellent season as a freshman at Georgia Tech in the US.