Friday's match will be between the South Pacific Raiders and University, and the following Friday another game will be played between two teams yet to be confirmed.
New Zealand Rugby League southern zone general manager Steve Martin said the pre-season games were a chance for the players to have a run before the winter competition started and to entice anyone interested in playing to "lace up their boots".
Martin said there would be a barbecue going at both games and it would give the public a chance to watch some high quality league.
The winter competition, to start after Easter, would consist of last year's champion side, the Kia Toa Tigers, the South Pacific Raiders, University and a composite side made up of two or three teams which competed in last year's spring competition, Martin said.
Games will be played on Saturday and, because of the popularity of last year's night games, Martin was hoping some matches could be played on Friday nights.
Unlike last year, there will be no combined Otago-Southland competition when the winter competition is completed.
Because the Southland teams were reluctant to travel last year, and the Otago players wanted to play on Saturday and the Southland players on Sunday, it was incredibly hard to make the two marry up, Martin said.
The Otago Whalers will play in the South Island representative competition later in the year.
Martin expected them to do well after finishing third in last year's six-team competition.
They have had a year to see where they have to get to and will be targeting the two Canterbury teams which beat them last year.
He said there could be a break between the winter competition finishing and the representative season starting or there might be a nine a-side tournament played during this time. Nothing was finalised yet.
The spring competition, which has been incredibly popular in the two years it has been contested, would once again be played later in the year.
Martin said although he could not confirm how many teams would be playing there would also be an under-17 secondary schools competition played during the winter season.
From that competition players would be picked to compete in some age-group competitions in Christchurch in July.
Both pre-season games will be played at Moller Park, Ravensbourne at 6pm and a registration tent will be available for anyone who wants to play.
