Kenya Simbas will be looking to uphold their regional bragging rights against a Uganda Rugby Cranes intent on reclaiming the Elgon Cup when the two rivals meet today at RFUEA ground, Nairobi.
The return leg will be played next Saturday in Kampala.
The Rugby Cranes narrowly defeated Kenya 21-20 in the first leg of last year’s Elgon Cup at Kings Park Arena, but suffered a 20-13 defeat in the second leg at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu.
Out of the 17 Cups played, Kenya Simbas have won 10 with Uganda winning seven.
The test match will be curtain-raised by two attractive looking duels. Kenya Legends will take on United Kingdom Tritons Veterans from 11am before Kenya Cup titans KCB and Harlequins clash from 2.30pm.
Kenya Simbas head coach Jerome Paarwater and his Cranes counterpart Fred Mudoola made minimal changes to their Africa Cup squads.
Under-20 international flanker Andycole Omolo, centre Tyson Maina (KCB) and winger Griffin Chao (Kabras Sugar) will make their debut for Kenya Simbas.
Ephraim Oduor and Wilhite Mususi start as props with deputy skipper Eugine Sifuna hooking while Emmanuel Silungi and Hillary Odhiambo will play at second row.
The exciting Brian Wahinya and Barry Young will operate at scrum-half and fly-half and Walter Okoth at centre.
"I want everybody to come out and see how we play rugby. We want to play attractive rugby. We want to score tries, play good set-pieces whether at the scrums, line-out. That is what we stand for, an expansive games," said Paawater.
France-based fullback Phillip Wokorach and former captain and Ivan Magomu, who is serving a six-month suspension, are some of the key players missing on the Cranes side
Byron Oketayot takes over the armband from Magomu and will pair with Moses Zziwa as flankers with deputy skipper operating at scrum-half Conrad Wanyama.
Uganda Sevens stars Pius Ogena and Aaron Ofworwoth, who missed the Africa Cup, return at eighth and flyhalf respectively.
“There is a lot at stake for us… Want to win and defend our current world ranking. More so, it has been a while since we won the Elgon Cup,” said Cranes deputy coach Leonard Lubambula.
Uganda are ranked 36, a place ahead of Kenya at 37.
“We want to score at every opportunity then defend the victory at home. My boys are looking sharp and ready,” said Lubambula.
“We are ready for a highly physical battle,” said Lubambula.
