All eyes will be on AAMI Park this afternoon as the Melbourne Rebels U20s and NSW Gen Blue vie for a Super U20s final berth.
Both teams boast a 2-1 record heading into tonight's clash - the curtain raiser to the Melbourne Rebels-NSW Waratahs derby - meaning the victor will head north to face the Queensland Reds U20s in a Sunday afternoon final at Ballymore.
Gen Blue were comprehensively beaten by the Queensland U20s at Wests last week but the ladder leaders handled Melbourne with similar ease in round one.That form indicates this will be a tight tussle and the same fixture last year saw Melbourne progress to the final before they fell 35-5 against Queensland in the final.
Gen Blue coach Pat McCutcheon has made two changes to his starting XV for the must win clash, while Melbourne U20s coach Craig McGrath has shuffled his 23-man squad, making two changes to the starting XV and one to the bench.
NSW Gen Blue take on the Rebels U20s this afternoon, kicking off at 5:30pm AEDT, broadcast LIVE on RUGBY.com.au.
TEAM
NSW Gen Blue team to take on the Melbourne Rebels U20s
1. Cody Walker
2. Jack Nettleton
3. Harry Johnson-Holmes
4. Ryan McCauley
5. Tom Piroddi
6. Lachlan Swinton
7. Lachlan Simpson
8. Max Girdler
9. Theo Strang
10. Bayley Kuenzle
11. James Ramm
12. Kepu Lokotui
13. Esera Chee Kam
14. Edward King
15. Tim Clements
Reserves
16. Phillip Bradford
17. Harrison Chapman
18. Dan Matthews
19. Harry McLennan
20. Dom McGrath
21. Banjo Travers
22. Daniel Boardman
23. Jackson Mohi
Melbourne Rebels U20s team to take on NSW Gen Blue
1. Mahe Vailanu
2. Jordan Uelese
3. Vaauli Faamausili
4. Esei Haangana
5. Emmanuel Latu-Meafou
6. Ben Collins
7. Jack Farrell
8. Jowell Samatua
9. Harrison Goddard
10. Jack McGregor
11. Angelo Leaupepe
12. Sione Tuipulotu
13. Hunter Paisami
14. Hayden Sargeant
15. Oisin Clarken
Reserves
16. Callum Kent
17. Declan Cox
18. Afi Taivai
19. Richard Clift
20. Sunia Finefeuiaki
21. Tim Sippel
22. Andreas Livadaras
23. Sione Tui
Only an unforeseen disaster could stop Queensland from hosting next Sunday's final, as they have an 84 point differential gap on NSW Gen Blue and are taking on the one-win Brumbies U20s.
That one win came last week against the cellar-dwelling Force U20s and coach Russell Ingram has made just one change to the starting XV from that clash, vice-captain Angus Allen in for Nick Saunders, who drops back to the bench.
The ACT Brumbies U20s take on the Queensland Reds U20s on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 4:00pm AEDT, broadcast LIVE on RUGBY.com.au.
Brumbies U20s team to take on Queensland U20s
1. Charlie Hancock
2. Sam Thomas
3. Angus Wagner (Tuggeranong)
4. Darcy Swain 5. Will Sankey
6. Justin Sikimeti
7. Angus Allen
8. Brodie Leber
9. Ryan Lonergan
10. Liam Moseley
11. Jackson Duffey
12. Trai Henderson
13. Lenny Ikitau
14. Kuti Tahau
15. Jamie Kotz
Reserves (one to be omitted)
16. Tevita Unga-Wolske
17. Fred Kahea
18. Ben Gordon
19. Dave Verryne
20. Nick Saunders
21. Jacob Abel
22. Alec Sheldon
23. Josh Wells
24. Jack Gilmore
Queensland U20s team TBC