They may be cousins but Zeb Dunstan and Jacob McKendry will be expecting no favours from one another during Saturday's annual Charity Shield clash at Cessnock Sportsground.
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Dunstan, a Goannas junior, made the switch to the Bulldogs last season and is expecting plenty of stick in his first Charity Shield back at Cessnock.
Cessnock haven't won the Charity Shield since 2015 and will be keen to square the ledger on their home turf.
McKendry, 27, said the rivalry of Charity Shield was instilled in Cessnock and Kurri kids from the moment they started playing footy and probably even earlier.
"It's a bash-up between two local towns. I can remember it was a big thing when I was a kid to come down here and watch all the greats running around," he said. "Eventually you got a run and it was so exciting."
Dunstan played his first Charity Shield in Bulldogs colours at Kurri Kurri last year and is expecting a fiery reception back in Cessnock.
"It's always a lot tougher coming back here. The boys are not too kind out on the field but I look forward to it," he said.
"It's great to get around and catch up with them as well as rub a few faces into the dirt on the pitch."
McKendry said he was seven when he played in his first Charity Shield.
"It's always the first trial of the year and it's always a big crowd and real test," he said. "We haven't won one for a few years so it would be nice to get the wood over them and make a good start to the year.
Games start at 8.30am, with first grade kicking off at 7.35pm. The charity beneficiary for 2019 is the Coalfield Cancer Support Group.
