It's been more than a decade since they stood on the winner's dais, but Te Puke co-coach Bruce Jepsen is quietly confident his team has the goods to give this year's Tai Mitchell primary schools rugby tournament a nudge.
Te Puke will host the annual tournament, which kicks off tomorrow and finishes with finals Wednesday at Murray Salt Stadium.
The tournament dates back to 1938 and brings together the rising stars of Bay of Plenty rugby from 10 subunions.
Te Puke have finished third at the past two tournaments, having not won the Tai Mitchell Shield since back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000, but Jepsen, who will coach the team with former Bay of Plenty Steamers halfback, said if they can overcome a "draw from hell" they they are well-positioned to be a threat.
Five pre-tournament games have yielded wins over Tauranga West, Opotiki, Tauranga East, Rangataiki and Galatea.
Te Puke have a tough opener tomorrow against Rotorua Gold, and strike defending champions Rotorua Maroon on Saturday before a tough Sunday double-header at Paengaroa Domain against Tauranga East and West.
Their final round-robin game is against Opotiki, who gave them their sternest pre-season test, on Monday.
"It's a tough, tough draw and even though we've had some good results in the build-up, pre-season's pre-season and it won't count for much come Friday," said Jepsen, who is also chairman of the tournament organising committee.
"Ramey and I both think it's a positive draw because it's not much point in dusting everyone in the earlier rounds against the smaller subunions and then strike the stronger teams underdone."
A scheduled game with Maroon, who pipped Tauranga West 24-20 to win last year, was called off.
"We haven't heard a lot about Maroon but they'll be strong again. No one from over this way has heard a lot about how they're tracking," Jepsen said.
Jepsen, also principal of Te Akau ki Papamoa School, was rushing around yesterday organising replacements for a couple of injured players. He coached Te Puke when they won in'99 and was joined by his brother Marty a year later when they repeated the effort.
Between them, Tauranga West and East have won eight of the last 10 tournaments.
Tai Mitchell Tournament Draw
Friday, round one: Tauranga West v Rangitaiki, Opotiki v Whakatane, Rotorua Gold v Te Puke, Rotorua Maroon v Apanui, Tauranga East v Galatea.
Saturday, round two: Tauranga East v Apanui, Rotorua Maroon v Te Puke, Rotorua Gold v Whakatane, Opotiki v Rangitaiki, Tauranga West v Galatea.
Sunday (Paengaroa Domain), round three: Rotorua Maroon v Whakatane, Rotorua Gold v Rangitaiki, Opotiki v Galatea, Tauranga West v Apanui, Tauranga East v Te Puke. Round four: Rotorua Maroon v Rangitaiki, Rotorua Gold v Galatea, Tauranga West v Te Puke, Opotiki v Apanui, Tauranga East v Whakatane.
Monday, round five: Opotiki v Te Puke, Tauranga West v Whakatane, Tauranga East v Rangitaiki, Rotorua Maroon v Galatea, Rotorua Gold v Apanui.
Tuesday: Semifinals
Wednesday: Finals day playoffs.