Bragging rights will also be on offer in the Premiership with early pace-setters Waikato and Tasman squaring off in a blockbuster clash at Trafalgar Park on Saturday.
Find your key match information and team lists below. Note: teams are added as they are named.
Wellington v Bay of Plenty
Friday 25 September, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
Played: 40
Won: Wellington 33, Bay of Plenty 5, Drawn 2
Last match: Wellington 15, Bay of Plenty 16 (7 September 2019)
Referee: Brendon Pickerill
Statchat (Opta): Wellington have won their last seven Mitre 10 Cup games against Bay of Plenty. Their last loss to the Steamers came in round 5, 2011.
TEAMS
Wellington
1-Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 2-Tyrone Thompson, 3-Josiah Tavita-Metcalfe, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Du'Plessi Kirifi, 8-Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 9-Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Julian Savea/Pepesana Patafilo, 12-Vince Aso, 13-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Billy Proctor
Reserves: 16-Bruce Kauika-Petersen, 17-Morgan Poi, 18-Ben Aumua-Peseta, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Mateaki Kafatolu, 21-Connor Collins, 22-Trent Renata, 23-Patafilo/Ruben Love
Bay of Plenty:
1-Tevita Mafileo, 2-Nathan Vella, 3-Jeff Thwaites, 4-Kane Le'aupepe, 5-Keepa Mewett, 6-Aaron Carroll, 7-Zane Kapeli, 8-Joe Tupe, 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Dan Hollinshead, 11-Fa'asiu Fuatai, 12-Chase Tiatia, 13-Regan Ware, 14-Joe Webber, 15-Kalen Trask
Reserves: 16-Nic Souchon, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Ross Geldenhuys, 19-Stan van den Hoven, 20-Joe Johnson, 21-Luke Campbell, 22-Scott Curry, 23-Cole Forbes
Tasman v Waikato
Saturday 26 September, 2.05pm, Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Played: 12
Won: Tasman 7, Waikato 5
Last match: Tasman 35, Waikato 26 (21 September 2019)
Referee: Richard Kelly
Statchat (Opta): Tasman has won their last 18 consecutive games in the regular season of the Mitre 10 Cup. Their last loss in the regular season came more than two years ago against Auckland in 2018.
TEAMS
Tasman:
1: Isileli Tuungafasi 2: Andrew Makalio 3: Isaac Salmon 4: Alex Ainley 5: Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta 6: Jacob Norris 7: Sione Talitu Havili 8: Hugh Renton 9: Dwayne Polataivao 10: Mitchell Hunt 11: Leicester Faingaanuku 12: Alex Nankivell 13: Fetuli Paea 14: Mark Telea 15: David Havili
Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Ryan Coxon, Samuel Matenga, Mahonri Ngakuru, Braden Stewart, Tim O’Malley, Lotima Faingaanuku
Waikato:
1: Ollie Norris 2: Samisoni Taukei’aho 3: Sefo Kautai 4: Hamilton Burr 5: Samipeni Finau 6: Adam Thomson 7: Luke Jacobsen 8: Simon Parker 9: Xavier Roe 10: Fletcher Smith 11: Patrick Osborne 12: Louis Rogers 13: Quinn Tupaea 14: Bailyn Sullivan 15: Liam Coombes-Fabling
Reserves: Steven Misa, Rob Cobb, Josh Iosefa-Scott, James Thompson, Hugo Nankivell, Cortez Ratima, Rivez Reihana, Valynce Te Whare
Southland v North Harbour
Saturday 26 September, 4.35pm, Rugby Park, Invercargill
Played: 25
Won: North Harbour 16, Southland 9
Last match: North Harbour 33, Southland 12 (25 August 2019)
Referee: James Munro
Statchat (Opta): Southland are hunting for back-to-back wins at home for the first time since 2016.
TEAMS
Southland:
1: Ethan De Groot 2: Greg Pleasants-Tate 3: Siate Tokolahi 4: Manaaki Selby-Rickit 5: Michael McKee 6: Charles Alaimalo 7: Matthew James 8: Tony Lamborn 9: Logan Crowley 10: Scott Eade 11: Rory van Vugt 12: Raymond Nu’u 13: Isaac Te Tamaki 14: Amanaki Nicole 15: Joshua Moorby
Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Joshua Walsh, Christopher Apoua, Raymond Tatafu, Glenn Preston, Liam Howley, Gregory Dyer, Tevita Latu
North Harbour:
1-Nic Mayhew, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Jacob Pierce, 6-Ethan Roots, 7-Tim Sail, 8-Lotu Inisi, 9-Lewis Gjaltema, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Walter Fifita, 12-James Little, 13-Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 14-Ngarohi McGarvey-Black, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Zane Turner, 17-Teague McElroy, 18-Jimmy Roots, 19-Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 20-Murphy Taramai, 21-Brad McNaughten, 22-Antonio Mikaele-Tu’u, 23-Kade Banks
Hawke’s Bay v Canterbury
Saturday 26 September, 7.05pm, McLean Park, Napier
Played: 59
Won: Canterbury 35, Hawke's Bay 21, Drawn 3
Last match: Canterbury 49, Hawke's Bay 24 (30 September 2018)
Referee: Cam Stone
Statchat (Opta): Canterbury are undefeated against Hawke's Bay since August 1982 (18 games have been played since then).
TEAMS
Hawke's Bay
1: Pouri Rakete-Stones 2: Ash Dixon 3: Joe Apikotoa 4: Geoff Cridge 5: Tom Parsons 6: Marino Mikaele-Tu’u 7: Brendon O’Connor 8: Devan Flanders 9: Folau Fakatava 10: Lincoln McClutchie 11: Jonah Lowe 12: Danny Toala 13: Stacey Ili 14: Lolagi Visinia 15: Kurt Baker
Reserves: Jacob Devery, Jason Long, Joel Hintz, Isaia Walker-Leaware, Gareth Evans, Connor McLeod, Caleb Makene, Ollie Sapsford
Canterbury:
1: Daniel Lienert-Brown 2: Shilo Klein 3: Oliver Jager 4: Sam Darry 5: Mitchell Dunshea 6: Tom Sanders 7: Billy Harmon 8: Whetukamokamo Douglas 9: Mitchell Drummond 10: Brett Cameron 11: Manasa Mataele 12: Rameka Poihipi 13: Ngatungane Punivai 14: Josh McKay 15: Andrew Knewstubb
Reserves: Scott Mellow, Finlay Brewis, Fletcher Newell, Reed Prinsep, Tom Christie, Enari Ereatara, Fergus Burke, Isaiah Punivai
Auckland v Manawatu
Sunday 27 September, 2.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland
Played: 29
Won: Auckland 23, Manawatu 6
Last match: Auckland 45, Manawatu 28 (9 September 2015)
Referee: Dan Waenga
Statchat (Opta): Auckland have won their last 15 consecutive Mitre 10 Cup games against Manawatu.
TEAMS
Auckland:
1. Jarred Adams 2. Leni Apisai 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Scott Scrafton 5. Jack Whetton 6. Adrian Choat 7. Blake Gibson 8. Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa 9. Taufa Funaki 10. Simon Hickey 11. Salesi Rayasi 12. TJ Faiane © 13. Tumua Manu 14. AJ Lam 15. Jordan Trainor 1. Jarred Adams 2. Leni Apisai 3. Angus Ta’avao 4. Scott Scrafton 5. Jack Whetton 6. Adrian Choat 7. Blake Gibson 8. Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa 9. Taufa Funaki 10. Simon Hickey 11. Salesi Rayasi 12. TJ Faiane © 13. Tumua Manu 14. AJ Lam 15. Jordan Trainor
Reserves: Mike Sosene-Feagai, Marcel Renata, James Lay, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sione Tuipulotu, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer, Zarn Sullivan
Manawatu: TBC
Taranaki v Otago (Ranfurly Shield)
Sunday 27 September, 2.05pm, TET Stadium, Inglewood
Played: 60
Won: Otago 32, Taranaki 26
Last match: Otago 35, Taranaki 27 (8 September 2019)
Referee: Angus Mabey
Statchat (Opta): Otago have stolen six lineouts from their opponents throw this Mitre 10 Cup campaign - the most of any team in the competition.
TEAMS
Taranaki:
1-Jared Proffit, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Reuben O'Neill, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Mitchell Crosswell, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Kaylum Boshier, 9-Lisati Milo-Harris, 10-Jayson Potroz, 11-Lewis Ormand, 12-Tei Walden, 13-Sean Wainui, 14-Jacob Raumaitayuki-Kneepkens, 15-Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Chris Gawler, 18-Donald Brighouse, 19-Findlamor Hoeata, 20-Tom Florence, 21-Kylem O'Donnell, 22-Daniel Waite, 23-Brayton Northcott-Hill
Otago:
1-George Bower, 2-:Liam Coltman, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Will Tucker, 6-Charles Eaton, 7-Slade McDowall, 8-Dylan Nel, 9-Kayne Hammngton, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Aleki Morris-Lome, 13-Michael Collins, 14-Freedom Vahaakolo, 15-Vilimoni Koroi
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Jonah Aoina, 18-Yoshihisa Sasagi, 19-Josh Hill, 20-Nasi Manu, 21-James Ascott, 22-Josh Timu, 23-Mitchell Scott.
Counties Manukau v Northland
Sunday 27 September, 4.35pm, Navigation Homes Stadium, Pukekohe
Played: 82
Won: Northland 49, Counties Manukau 29, Drawn 4
Last match: Northland 24, Counties Manukau 20 (30 September 2018)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Statchat (Opta): Counties Manukau have lost their last 10 Mitre 10 Cup games - the longest losing streak in their history.
TEAMS
Counties Manukau:
1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2. Zuriel Toniatama, 3. Conan O’Donnell, 4. Potu Leavasa, 5. Matiaha Martin, 6. Sam Slade, 7. Alamanda Motuga, 8. Kieran Read, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Baden Kerr, 11. Sione Fifita, 12. Latiume Fosita, 13. Orbyn Leger (capt), 14. Kirisi Kuridrani, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo
Reserves: Joseph Casey, Leigh Hughes, Suetena Asomua, Mickey Woolliams, Jonathan Kawau, Cameron Roigard, Luteru Laulala, Jason Robertson
Northland:
1-Luatangi Li, 2-Jordan Olsen, 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Temo Mayanavanua, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Sam McNamara, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Dan Hawkins, 11-Pisi Leilua, 12-Blake Hohaia, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jordan Hyland, 15-Matthew Wright
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Ross Wright, 18-Kalolo Tuiloma, 19-Sam Caird, 20-Saimoni Uluinakauvadra, 21-Will Grant, 22-Wiseguy Fiane, 23-Scott Gregory