Aquinas College makes its welcome return Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools Competition this weekend, albeit giving opposition added motivation to knock them over as current Te Kani Shield holders.

The Te Kani Shield is the Bay of Plenty Secondary Schools equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield and is played for at all games contested by holder both home and away.

Aquinas College are the current Te Kani Shield holders. Photo: File.

Aquinas is yet to make an appearance in the 2015 edition of the secondary schools tournament after missing the first round of the competition while on Chiefs Trophy duty.

Tomorrow sees Trident High School having the first crack at this prestigious shield.

Trident High School head coach Marc Camburn, following a disappointing first round, says the side has been doing it rough in the early rounds with a number of players being unavailable through injury or family commitments each week.

Putting immense pressure on the team.

'The tragic loss of Jamie Johnston has also hurt the team. Jamie was undoubtedly an upcoming talent but it is also the services of his father, Colin 'Bones” Johnston, who has been a part of the coaching team for a number of years and who is taking some deserved family time.

'The Te Kani Shield will provide a boost for our team – something to play for- at the start of this new round.”

Trident remains confident of putting their season back on track and remain the sleeping bear of the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

Aquinas College have also had a slow start and the recent appointment of Buck Taylor as coach will see the team settle into a more regular pattern of play to utilise the strength of their midfield with James Wood leading the way.

Meanwhile Callum Hoare will need to produce a strong tight five display in order for the Aquinas backline to launch the attacks behind a steady platform.

Hoare, the side's captain, says the shield is a vessel of pride which heightened the level of intensity and focus for each game.

'Every game we worked harder for every win. It represents our schools mana.”

Aquinas Rugby's Myles Reid says the side is every bit focused this year as what they were last year.

"Our season starts in the pre-season. The rubber hits the road and we train, conditioned to be rugby fit, conditioned to defend the Te Kani Shield.

'As we go into the Trident game this weekend we carry our schools manna and support with us.”

The game kicks off at 12 noon at Trident High School.