The arrival of the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium on Friday night will see a number of Taranaki players front up to each other on opposing sides of the field.
Taranaki had a long association with the Hurricanes before the union opted to invest in the Chiefs.
Nevertheless, the amber and blacks have and still do provide the Hurricanes with some of their finest players and, off the back of an all-time Canes Magpies XV during last week’s visit to Hawke’s Bay, it seems timely to do the same with Taranaki.
Putting together an all-time best Canes Taranaki team was no easy task, however.
There was plenty of options, especially up front, where Taranaki have provided considerably more forwards that backs to the Hurricanes alumni.
Starting up front, inaugural Hurricanes captain Mark ‘Bull’ Allen would start at loosehead prop beside fellow All Blacks and former skipper’s Andrew Hore and Gordon Slater.
There was plenty of competition in the second row with the likes of Paul Tito and Craig Clarke just missing out to former All Blacks Jason Eaton and James Broadhurst.
Competition was equally tough in the loose forwards where Blade Thomson would start off the back of the scrum while former All Blacks Scott Waldrom and Chris Masoe would be the the openside and blindside flanker respectively.
Former Maori All Black Chris Smylie gets the nod at halfback ahead of the likes of Brendan Haami, Tyson Keats and Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.
First five-eighth was the most straight forward choice with Beauden Barrett given the No 10 jersey while the midfield would feature Charlie Ngatai and former Japan international Bryce Robins.
There were limited options out wide where Andre Taylor and David Smith wold be the wings with Jordie Barrett patrolling things from fullback.
All-time Canes Taranaki XV:
15 Jordie Barrett
14 Andre Taylor
13 Bryce Robins
12 Charlie Ngatai
11 David Smith
10 Beauden Barrett
9 Chris Smylie
8 Blade Thomson
7 Scott Waldrom
6 Chris Masoe
5 Jason Eaton
4 James Broadhurst
3 Gordon Slater
2 Andrew Hore
1 Mark Allen