The very ground will tremble and the air will be filled with screams of defiance.
Yes, it's that time of year again where fire will be met with fire and fierce haka challenged by the best primary school rugby players from across the province who have assembled in Whangarei to represent their sub union and do battle for the 2013 Taniwha Shield.
The prestigious, annual age- and weight-restricted tournament gets under way on Kensington Park this morning and is being hosted by the Whangarei Junior Rugby Board.
The day for all eight teams starts at 9am with a weigh-in - for teams in the following order: Grizzlies, Bears (the current holders), Northern Wairoa, Bay of Islands, Hokianga, Presidents, Rodney/ Otamatea and Mangonui - which will be followed by team photos and then one photo of all the teams together before the first game kicks off at 11am.
The Taniwha Shield is a tournament designed for primary school players aged under 13 (as at January 1, 2013, and also must be in either Year 8 or form 2) and weighing under 57kg at the official weigh-in. Apart from the opportunity to secure the prestigious shield, the event is also regarded as the first opportunity for young Northland players to gain a provincial jersey as, at the tournament's conclusion, the best players from each team are selected to trial for the Northland squad contesting the Roller Mills tournament later in the year.
As per tradition, The Northland Age will be profiling and following the progress of the three Far North teams in the event, Mangonui, Hokianga and Bay of Islands.
The Mangonui squad, which left Kaitaia yesterday and is shown nearby, was last week named as follows. 1 Isaiah Harding, 2 Kelly Nathan, 3 Samuel Yates Harrop, 4 Adam Pomare, 5 Tomislav Baker, 6 Oliver Hilton Jones, 7 Brownie Pukeroa, 8 Micheal Conrad Ellis, 9 Tepaea Cook Savage, 10 Corey Evans, 11 Takerei Rollo, 12 Memphis Ngaruhe, 13 Pukeroa Rollo, 14 Rihari Pomare, 15 Johnny Rakena, 16 Manaia Nicholls, 17 Eugene O'Conner Matiu, 18 Sonny Heighway, 19 Hemi Young, 20 Thomas Currie, 21 Reuben Simeon, 22 Reo Taylor; coach: Eddy Evans; assistants: James Young, James Bensley and Grant Baker.
Upcoming editions will feature team profiles of the Hokianga and Bay of Islands teams.
The draw for the first three days of the 2013 Taniwha Shield features inside, while updated results from the first two days of play (Tuesday and Wednesday) will feature in Thursday's edition.