South Africa opener Dean Elgar and Black Caps left-armer Neil Wagner have been drawn back into a rivalry which stretches back to their school days.
Long before their international careers were in the pipeline, the pair played against each other at school and at junior provincial level.
Wagner strutted his stuff for Northerns and Affies - the posh school in Pretoria - while Elgar honed his skills with Free State and at St Dominic's College in Welkom.
One was a fiery strike bowler, the other a hard-working top order batsman. That part has not changed.
Elgar will open the batting for South Africa, while Wagner is likely to partner Tim Southee and Trent Boult when the first test gets under way in Dunedin tomorrow.
Wagner is more familiar with the conditions, of course. The South African-born 30-year-old plays his provincial cricket for Otago these days and the University Oval is his adopted home ground.
He has built a reputation as a wholehearted and aggressive change bowler at international level.
Elgar works just as hard on his game. The 29-year-old is happy to occupy the crease and graft an innings. Those qualities should serve him well in New Zealand and against his old mate, Wagner.
``In school we did,'' Elgar said when asked about the rivalry.
``He seems to be someone who has come on in leaps and bounds for New Zealand cricket. And it also seems like he is leading their bowling attack with regards to aggression which is great to see - a bit of South Africa mentality coming out there, I think.''
``Free State against Northerns, I remember that. It used to be pretty feisty. A lot of Afrikaans people in those two teams and it was pretty heated.
``But it was all in good spirits at that time and I guess we were all trying to play for careers that we thought we could never have back then.''
Wagner certainly recalls some white line fever but no lasting animosity.
``He is a great man, Dean,'' Wagner said.
``We get on really well off the field. We've had a lot of battles on the field as young boys from school cricket going onwards. We hated playing against each other.''
While Elgar respects the challenge the New Zealand pace trio will present, he was relieved he would not have to face some of his own bowlers on what looks like a ``juicy'' wicket to him.
Vernon Philander potentially shapes as the most threatening in the South Africa seam bowling department. In six games against New Zealand, he has taken 32 wickets at an average of 15.53. He shredded the Blacks Caps in Newlands four years ago with five for seven to help dismiss the visiting side for a paltry 45.
Poor old fast bowler Morne Morkel had to settle for three for 13 in that innings. He has been sidelined with a persistent back injury but has returned and is ``very hungry''.
``He is also another bowler I'm glad I don't have to face too much,'' Elgar said.
``I just have to face him in the nets and it's only seven minutes of your day, luckily.
``In the last five months he has had a lot of time to think about his game and obviously do a lot of rehab and get his injury correct.
``And I think he is raring to go. He wants to play again for South Africa.''
