Both Wanganui sides will be flying the local flag in the Western Premiership at Wembley Park and in Takaro as the 2013 club football season starts this Saturday.
Wanganui Athletic 1sts and Wanganui City Reserves are in the nine-team league with Redsox Rovers, Redsox A's, Levin AFC, North End Reserves,PN Marist Reserves, PNBHS 1st X1 and Takaro Titans.
The Wanganui squads face a tough season playing effectively reserve-based sides from the Federation League, plus the likes of PNBHS who, similar to Wanganui Athletic, made a decision to rebuild from a lower level.
While coach Mickey Cronin will have the services of some experienced club members at times, it is a "softly, softly" approach for this season.
Wanganui City will look for consistency from their reserves this year after a patchy 2012 campaign
The opening round will see no easy first up outing for either side with Athletic hosting Levin AFC at 2.30pm. The visitors are well prepared, with pre-season fixtures against Federation League sides.
City will hit the road to take on Takaro, who have been somewhat of a thorn in Wanganui team's collective sides over thepast couple of seasons
