Week four in the NPC sees the first big Ranfurly Shield challenge as Bay of Plenty try to take the Log of Wood from the grasp of Canterbury on Friday night.
There are also two hot local derbies this weekend as Southland host Otago and Auckland and North Harbour challenge for the battle of the bridge.
Bay of Plenty will need to put their somewhat wretched Ranfurly Shield history behind them when they try to lift the Log of Wood at Jade Stadium in Christchurch on Friday night, reports nzoom.com.
The Bay, who have never won the shield, have been involved in two of the most noticeable challenges in the last two decades, twice having victory cruelly snatched away from them. In 1984 they were denied a deserved win, ironically against Canterbury, when they had a seemingly fair try disallowed in the last minute.
Then in 1996 they built a seemingly impregnable lead over Auckland at Eden Park only for the holders to surge home late in the game, clinching a 30-29 win with the last kick of the match.
On both occasions, the Bay played without fear and they should approach this challenge the same way. They will feel they belong in Division One, having beaten the defending champions Wellington in the opening round and then narrowly losing to Auckland in week two - and in a player like Glen Jackson (pictured) they have someone who knows about big rugby and will look to him to guide them around the field.
Canterbury, though, love holding the shield and have made an impressive start to the NPC, winning two away clashes pretty comfortably. Their powerful-looking pack should win plenty of ball and in backs like Aaron Mauger, Caleb Ralph and Ben Blair they have the strike power that should keep the Log in Christchurch for at least another week.
Counties Manukau take on Northland at The Stadium, Pukekohe. Last week's game at Pukekohe saw rugby played in just about the worst conditions possible and the heavy rain which has fallen in the area throughout the week should mean that we are in for another soggy performance this Saturday.
Counties will desperately need to get a win from this game. Having lost to Southland, Waikato and North Harbour, the Steelers will have to win this game to have any realistic hope of avoiding an end-of-season dog fight to stay up.
Fortunately for them Koula Tukino is now firing on all cylinders and Northland will have to tackle in numbers every time he has the ball.
Northland enter this game on the back of two defeats, although after playing Canterbury and Otago they should find the opposition here slightly easier. James Arlidge has looked solid at first-five and with their two Fijian wingers back, Fero Lasagavibau and Rupeni Caucaunibuca, the points should be heading north after the game.
Waikato and Taranaki do battle at Trustbank Park, Hamilton. Having lost all three games this season and with them all being at home, Taranaki have virtually no chance of repeating last year's feat of reaching the top four - and if things don't turn around very quickly they could be caught up in the battle to stay in the first division.
This game against in-form Waikato will not be an easy one to get the Naki's season back on track.
North Harbour square up to Auckland at North Harbour Stadium in Albany. The Battle of the Bridge should fire up the emotions of both fans and players as both sides hope to continue the good starts they have made to the season.
The result of this game may well depend on how long Harbour coach Buck Shelford waits before bringing on Frano Botica at first-five, despite being 38-years-old Botica has been a revelation this season inspiring the speedy but inconsistent back line.
With the game also acting as a trial for the Blues squad next season expect some heated confrontations among the loose forwards as both teams try to catch the eye of Peter Sloane.
Auckland bring back Australian Steve Devine at flyhalf and are lucky to have the services of Robin Brooke for the game after his punch-throwing activities last weekend.
Even though Auckland haven't played great rugby this season, they are capable of destroying teams from set pieces and should prove too good for Harbour, although the result will probably be pretty close.
On Sunday Southland take on Otago at Rugby Park, Invercargill and the Southern men come together having made contrasting starts to the season.
Somewhat against predictions, Otago find themselves in the hunt for a top four place, only missing out on points differential.
Laurie Mains seems to have the blue-and-golds firing with young captain Tom Willis and big No 8 Paul Miller being particularly impressive and Miller will be the key to the Otago pack getting over the top of their opposites.
In the backs, Brendan Laney is at his mercurial best, scoring tries in both Otago's games thus far and he looks set to give the Maroons a torrid time on Sunday.
As expected, Southland already look to be involved in a relegation battle and need to desperate take some points out of this one to drag themselves out of the danger zone.