The Highlanders under-20 team will play their Blues counterparts in the opening round of the Super Rugby under-20 tournament in Taupō on Saturday evening.
There are eight teams — the five New Zealand clubs, Moana Pasifika, Fijian Drua and the New Zealand Barbarians — and all get three games in seven full-on days.
It is the fifth year of the tournament, which Baby Landers coach Eade described as "an awesome concept".
"I was lucky enough to be the assistant last year and saw what it was all about.
"It’s really, I guess, the closest thing to something like the NPC.
"For these young guys, it’s a bit of a taste of top rugby. They get to wear Super Rugby colours, they play three games in a week, they do reviews and previews, and they have to perform at a good level.
"It’s a really good tournament. It’s very intense.
"It’s the detail around the games that for a lot of guys, particularly coming out of school, is a huge jump.
"It’s all learning, I guess. And at the end of the day, they do just get to go and play footy and hopefully have some fun."
Ten players return after helping the Highlanders finish fifth at the tournament last year.
The Baby Landers look particularly strong in the backs.
New Zealand under-20 star Dylan Pledger will captain the side from halfback, and talented first five Mika Muliaina is one of several in the squad from the recent successful era of Southland Boys’ High School rugby.
Winger Kyan Rangitutia has NPC experience, promising outside back Josh Augustine is back from a broken leg, Tayne Harvey is a rising midfielder, and fullback Wiremu Brailey is fresh from Rotorua Boys’ High School and helping the Māori under-18s upset New Zealand Schools.
Talented lock Josh Tengblad, hooker Shaun Kempton, New Zealand Schools prop Thomas Jennings and flanker Gregor Rutledge will anchor the forward pack.
The under-20 tournament might only be in its fifth year but it is already a proven nursery for talent.
Highlanders squad members Rohan Wingham, Fabian Holland, Sean Withy, Cameron Millar, Michael Manson, Oliver Haig and Nathan Hastie were all in the first Baby Landers squad.
Jack Taylor, Hayden Michaels, Ajay Faleafaga, Jake Te Hiwi, Finn Hurley and Will Stodart followed in 2022, as did Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham and Moana Pasifika loose forward Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa.
Highlanders under-20
The squad
Props: JJ Fisher, Thomas Jennings, Tasman Soani Oeti, Couper Killick, Ethan Webber.
Hookers: Shaun Kempton, Tom Martin.
Locks: Josh Tengblad (vice-captain), Christian MacEwan, Lachlan Stevens, Finlay Mather.
Loose forwards: Tom Devery, Gregor Rutledge, Matt Brock, Justin Shaw, Louis Lepionka.
Halfbacks: Dylan Pledger (captain), Oliver Thode.
First fives: Mika Muliaina, Wyndham Patuawa.
Midfielders: Tayne Harvey, Riley Lucas, Sam Mustchin.
Outsides: Kyan Rangitutia, Josh Augustine, Liam Barron, Wiremu Brailey.
