It's the first time they have met their cross-town rivals since they lost the grand final to them last season, but don't bring that up with Troy Whiley.
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The Queanbeyan Kangaroos lock admits he will "never forget" the pain of losing a decider to the Queanbeyan Blues, and now he is out for vengeance when they meet in the Canberra Raiders Cup at Seiffert Oval on Saturday.
The Kangaroos are coming to grips with the departure of former NRL grand final winner Jeff Lima, and they will face two of their former teammates in Aidan Woods and Aisea Taholo.
Woods returned to Seiffert Oval this season while Taholo jumped ship to add some spice to an already heated rivalry that added another chapter in the Blues' 2017 grand final win.
"Don’t bring it up," Whiley said.
"Obviously both sides have changed a little bit but I’ll never forget it. You don’t forget losing a grand final. At the end of the day we’ve got to focus on this week and keep trying to build for the finals.
"You know what it’s like, every time we play the Blues it’s a tough and hard game, so just looking forward to it like normal.
"Obviously Jeff Lima going was a big thing but we’re passed that now and we’ve just got to keep doing what we’re doing."
Not only are they without Lima, but the Kangaroos are missing halfback Derek Hay and back-rower Nukurua Ngere due to Monaro Colts under 23s commitments at the country championships.
The Blues are without hooker Zac Patch but back-rower Talia’uli Takitaki is confident they can fill the void as he braces for his first Queanbeyan derby.
While he hasn't been out on the paddock during one of them, he's seen plenty of Blues-Kangaroos classics in his time.
"I always go to watch the grand finals and it’s always tough," Takitaki said.
"It‘s always good to go against the Roos, they’re one of the toughest teams in the comp. It’s pretty good, I’m expecting a lot of things.
"I know the game is going to be hard so I’m just looking to get out there and do what we do best and hopefully come out with a win.
"They’ve always been a tough team in the past, going against the Roos. I don’t mind a bit of a challenge. It’s always going to be a tough game against the two Queanbeyan sides, hopefully we come out on top."
A raft of emerging talent in the Canberra Raiders Cup will be missing this week as they prepare to turn out for the Monaro Colts under 23s at the country championships.
Monaro are looking to defend their title and West Belconnen centre Ryley Thomas admits they will "definitely have a target on our back from last year" when they face the Riverina Bulls at Harris Park in Wagga Wagga.
The Monaro Colts ladies league tag side will face the GSR Wests Tigers in a curtain-raiser.
CANBERRA RAIDERS CUP ROUND SIX
Saturday: Belconnen United Sharks v Tuggeranong Bushrangers at O'Connor Oval, 3pm. Queanbeyan Blues v Queanbeyan Kangaroos at Seiffert Oval, 3pm.
Sunday: Woden Valley Rams v Gungahlin Bulls at Phillip Oval, 2pm. Goulburn Bulldogs v West Belconnen Warriors at Goulburn Arena, 2pm.
