Originally from New Caledonia, Mufana, 23, came to New Zealand to complete his final three years of schooling at Lindisfarne College. The father of three is in his fourth season with the Taradale premiers after two with the club's colts.
"I was doing a computer design course at EIT when a guy there invited me to a Taradale colts training session. I've been there ever since and have really enjoyed it," Mufana recalled.
A member of the Hawke's Bay under-20s team in 2012-13, Mufana ranked the side's Hurricanes title win in 2012 with an unbeaten run as the highlight of his career.
His main goal this season is to return to his best form after recovering from a knee injury collected last year.
One of his locking partners at Taradale in recent seasons, Elijah Martin, has been in hot form for Tech and Mufana will be all out to stop Martin and co from spoiling their party. Mufana played his 50th on April 16 against Tamatea.
McLachlan, 36, also had a winning 50th in the round one clash against Havelock North. With Magpies Mark Braidwood and Tolu Fahamokioa in rampant form for Tech both in the tight and loose McLachlan can expect a torrid time today.
McLachlan has represented Taradale from under-19 level after completing all of his JAB rugby at Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports. He had 10 years in the club's reserve grade team before making the step up.
While McLachlan's dedication to the Jason Shoemark-coached Taradale team is first class he is better known for his performances as a member of the Hawke's Bay Hawkeyes superstock and Meeanee Maulers stockcar teams.
Woolly played his 50th in last weekend's loss to Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports. The Taradale High School product had his first premier game in 2013 after playing for the club's colts the year before.
Providing Tech are at full strength their experienced forward pack should provide the platform for a six-point win. However if their hosts - who will start without Magpies halfback Chris Eaton, again on the injured list, and Magpies second five-eighth Billy Ropiha, who is again at an All Black Sevens squad training camp - can produce a performance appropriate to the occasion the Texans could be in trouble.
Should HBI Insurances Napier Old Boys Marist (NOBM) pip K9 Petfoods Clive at Farndon Park it will be a huge confidence booster in their quest to capture the Nash Cup the following week.
But the riversiders will be eager to return to the winning path after last week's loss to Tech.
Don't be surprised if this one is drawn.
At the other end of the points table Northfuels Central and Tamatea will be targeting their first win of the season when they clash at Waipukurau's Central Park. With the home ground advantage expect Central to sneak in by six.
The clash of in-form second five-eighths Neria Fomai and Jesse Paewai will be a feature of Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports Elwood Park encounter against Progressive Meats Havelock North. Paewai's villagers are likely to spoil Fomai and co's club day celebrations with a seven-point victory.
Like NOBM, MAC need a win to keep their Nash Cup hopes alive. Providing they play to their full potential they could pip Tanalised Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports by three points at Flaxmere's Ron Giorgi Park.
Their visitors will again miss the services of their injured general David Neilson at first five-eighth. Magpies halfback Jonathan Ruru and dynamic openside flanker Pouvi Fatialofa are also doubtful starters so the MAC midfield duo of Vai Kereti and Lewis Marshall could create havoc as they have in recent weeks.
