It is a match that has been the best part of two years in the making.
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When Maitland take on Western Suburbs on Sunday, it will be the first time since the two sides have clashed since Pickers coach Matt Lantry departed the Rosellas, bringing a handful of their star players with him.
So, if the Harker Oval crowd aren't baying for blood, it's fair to say they'll be fired up.
"And it's Old Boys Day down there too," Lantry said. "An interesting choice for Old Boys Day, the Maitland game. There'll be a good atmosphere, that's for sure."
With former Wests premiership players Alex and Daniel Langbridge in the Maitland side, along with five-eighth Chad O'Donnell - second rower Pat Mata'utia is likely to be rested again to overcome a knee injury - there's no doubt it's a match Wests had marked on their calendar.
"Wests are always a tough challenge and we'll need to play well," Lantry said. "Having said that, a few more of their players have moved on since I left, so I think there's only about four players left there from the team I coached."
If Maitland are to come out on top, they'll need to start their matches better. Against Cessnock - Maitland's only loss to date - they were clearly outplayed in the early stages, and against The Entrance last weekend their first half was lacklustre.
The fact they were able to turn it around to run away with the match 42-12 speaks volumes for them - but doesn't hide the fact their first half was disappointing.
With big games on the horizon against competition leaders Macquarie and Central over the next couple of weeks, it's an area they'll want to improve.
"We changed our game plan at half time and went up through the middle rather than hitting them on the edges," Lantry said. "It's a good sign that the boys can do that and alter the way they're playing mid-game, so I was pleased about that."
One of the best for Maitland last weekend was replacement centre Matt Soper-Lawler who scored two tries. "Matt trains with the Knights and we don't know until late in the week whether he's available for us," Lantry said. "It makes it difficult with selections, but it's the way it is."
There will also be plenty of interest in the Cessnock-Kurri derby at Cessnock - both sides are coming off consecutive losses and will be desperate for points.
Kurri will have captain-coach Mitch Cullen back after he had been forced to sit out the previous two matches with suspension.