Their home strip is the traditional red but this season they will also sport a new Māori design created by artist Maia Gibbs.
The Wekas also have an away strip — white with the same patterns on it — which they will debut tomorrow against King Country.
The Wekas were fifth on the table last year — one point off making the Lochore Cup playoff for third.
They beat Mid Canterbury (fifth versus sixth) to become the inaugural winners of the Bill Osborne Taonga challenge trophy.
The trophy — similar to the Ranfurly Shield — goes on the line in home games. The Bay's first home game is against Wairarapa Bush on August 27.
The Wekas go into tomorrow's game off the back of a solid win against Hawke's Bay Saracens last weekend. That followed their Ranfurly Shield loss to Hawke's Bay.
They are learning from each game, and improving with each match is the narrative of their 2022 campaign.
The ruck/maul area of their game was impressive against the Saracens and will again be key tomorrow.
Poverty Bay head coach Miah Nikora said they wanted to keep improving in the ruck/maul area.
“It's a new tactic this year — around pressuring the opposition ruck/maul. It worked really well for us against the Saracens, so we will look to keep improving that part of our game.
“They (King Country) have a big forward pack. Their locks have got height and size.”
The Wekas will be without giant Adriaan Brits and locking partner Dan Law.
Nikora has a plan to negate King Country's big men.
“We are lacking a bit of size at lock. They are big but we will look to try and combat that with our speed and movement at lineout time.”
Two players will make their Heartland debuts.
“Braedyn Grant, who started at fullback for us last weekend against the Saracens, will get his first first-class cap for Poverty Bay, so it is awesome for him to get his opportunity.” Nikora said.
“Kupu Lloyd, who also played for us against the Saracens, will get his first official cap this weekend as well.”
The game will be streamed live. Go to the Poverty Bay Rugby Football Union Facebook page for details.
• Buller v Mid Canterbury, Westport
• Ngāti Porou East Coast v Horowhenua-Kapiti, Ruatoria
• King Country v Poverty Bay, Te Kuiti
• South Canterbury v Thames Valley, Temuka
• West Coast v Whanganui, Greymouth
• Wairaapa Bush v North Otago, Palmerston North
Toru Noanoa, Shayde Skudder (captain), James Higgins, Fletcher Scammell, Morgan Reedy, Keanu Taumata, Niko Lauti, Adrian Wyrill, Ruan du Plooy, Mitchell Purvis, Te Peehi Fairlie, Ted Walters, Tione Hubbard, Braedyn Grant*.
Rikki Terekia, Tulsa Kaui, Lance Dickson, Kupu Lloyd*, Jesse Kapene, Mario Counsell, Ricardo Patricio, Matt Rutene.
