The Otago Nuggets will renew their battle with the Canterbury Rams this weekend with pre-season games in Timaru and Dunedin.
The Nuggets and the Rams have not played since the Christchurch-based club dropped out of the National Basketball League after the 2008 season.
The Rams were replaced by the Christchurch Cougars but the city has not fielded a team in the league for the past three years.
The clubs have played 43 NBL games, the Rams enjoying a 29-14 advantage.
The Otago Goldrush will also have a hit-out against the Canterbury Wildcats in Timaru on Saturday.
Nuggets player-coach Mark Dickel will be able to call on the services of American imports Warren Carter and Troy Payne. Sydney-based New Zealander Tony Tolovae will also be available but Fijian international Marques Whippy has not arrived in the country yet and will miss the games.
Former Tall Black Brendon Polyblank will captain the side and forward Sam King will make his return after a year's absence.
''More than anything it will be useful for the players who are coming in to get a little bit of a run to see what the competition is going to be like,'' Dickel said.
''And for the guys who have been here training really hard for the last month, it is a chance to see that hard work come to fruition.
''In practice, everybody knows the plays you are running and you kind of get stale playing against the same people all the time.
''This will be the first indication of where we sit.''
The Nuggets and the Rams are the only two NBL franchises which are not competing at a pre-season tournament in Porirua next weekend, so it is important for both sides.
''While it would be great to get away to Porirua, once again it is just another expense which we have to weigh up as to whether it is really that important.''
NBL and WBC
Pre-season games
Nuggets v Rams: Timaru, 1pm, Saturday
Goldrush v Wildcats: Timaru, 3pm, SaturdayNuggets v Rams: Dunedin, 1pm, Sunday
