Both teams had a bonus-point win in the first round. The students scored seven tries in beating Green Island 52-10, and Dunedin scored four tries in a 30-29 win over Taieri.
Dunedin has a strong scrum that will be spearheaded by the front row of Will Henry, Sam Anderson-Heather and Mark Grieve-Dunn.
It is not yet known if loose forward Gareth Evans will be released by the Highlanders for the game.
But even without the dynamic flanker, Dunedin has an effective loose forward trio in Mitchell Zandstra, Hugh Blake and Hame Toma.
Anderson-Heather and Blake played key roles in Dunedin's championship win last winter. Lock Josh Dickson was the best University player against Green Island with his lineout skills, hard tackling and speed.
Also key in the student eight is hooker Sam Sturgess, who used his experience to tame a lively Green Island pack.
Dunedin has won six of the past seven games between the teams. In 2011, it won 34-19 and 47-19. In 2012, it won the first game 19-18 but the students had a 40-27 win in the second game.
Last year, Dunedin won all three games: 30-13, 30-26 and 36-33.
If the students are to reverse the trend they need to do it with running rugby in the backs.
University A returned to its aggressive running style, similar to the great student teams of the past, in the big win over Green Island. If it continues this, it could run the legs off Dunedin.
Key players in the student backline are halfback Nick Annear and counterattacking fullback Matt Faddes.
Dunedin's strong defence will be difficult for the students to breach, especially with the hard-tackling midfield of Tumua Ioane and Tim Tolovae.
New halfback George Vance was the best Dunedin player in the win over Taieri.
His combination with new first five-eighth Greg Dyer is developing into an efficient unit.
