The Impala Saracens welcome cross fence neighbours Homeboyz RFC, in the first of Friday night action of the season, to kick off Kenya cup Match day 2.

The two sides come into this match off contrasting fortunes from Match Day 1, while Homeboyz were on the right side of a 71-3 result against Machine. Impala were on the receiving end of a 40-29 result against Mwamba at the Railways club.
These two met in the opening weekend of the 2013/14 season, at the same venue where the Djs claimed a surprise 28-19 result. The hosts will not want to go two games without a win, to avoid a repeat of last season.
Last weekend the red shirts came agonisingly close to turn around a 21-7 half time deficit, narrowing it to a two point game at 21-19. They however let that slip, and killing off any hopes of a comeback when Sammy Oliech was sent to the sin bin. They once again scored 10 quick points for that 40-29 result.
The red shirts will be confident going into this one, with the likes of George Okowa and Joel Omer back in the fold to join Anthony Nyandigisi, Sammy Oliech, Nato Simiyu and Duncan Ekasi who will be vital to their charge. They will however have a soft under belly and a false start here could be enough to undo any efforts made.
The Djs will be high in confidence coming into this one, after convincingly dispatching Machine. They will be out to replicate their performance here last season and with a squad that exudes youthful flair you can not under estimate them. With Oscar Ayodi set to rejoin the side which already has the likes of Alvin Otieno, Leonard Mugaisi, Bush Mwale, Michael Wanjala, Haroun Lubisia and Humphrey Mulama, they truly can pack a punch.
With both sides harbouring hopes of a play off place, they need to get their early season results right.
Apart from the night action on Friday there will be two double headers on Match Day 2, one in Kakamega and the other at the University of Nairobi grounds.
Blak Blad vs Strathmore Leos – (2.00pm, UoN)
Kicking off matters at the UoN will be the university derby between Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad and the Leos of Strathmore University.
The fact that these two are campus sides is as far as their similarities go, while the Leos have become regular league challengers. Blad have been finding their feet on the other end of the table. Despite that, this fixture last season played out to a 20-5 result in favour of the Leos.
Blad will once again look to stand up against their varsity counterparts, especially having lost 32-10 to the Kenya Harlequins. Levy Amunga and Wesley Kidiga will be key for the Blad’s charge, along with the rest of the squad, will have to be at their very best if they are to get anything here.
After an opening 45-0 win over Mombasa, the Leos will be looking to record another high score at the UoN. The likes of Humphrey and Tony Owuor, Tony Onyango, George Ndemi, Brian Nyikuli, Billy Odiambo, Mike Wanjala and Ken Andola are expected to lead the side to a convincing win here.
Mean Machine vs Quins – (4.00pm, UoN)
The second encounter at the UoN will see the home team host one of it’s greatest rivals over time, the Kenya Harlequins.
These two have had shared a great rivalry since Machine’s formation in the late seventies, that rivalry has since faded with the collapse of Machine as a rugby powerhouse. That however doesn’t mean that the action in this encounter is any bit diluted.
The two met recently in the Floodies semi finals where Quins managed to get past a stubborn Machine side, 20-3. Before that Quins had an easier time on the opening weekend of last season where they claimed a 31-5 result.

Dennis Omulasu and David ‘Ocampo’ if picked will come up against their former mates at Eschuma, but with the likes of Patrice Agunda, Isaac Adimo, Dennis Muhanji and Kevin Keagan on their side, chances that they will leave their former home ground with the four points are really high.
Playing Machine at their backyard has never been easy, and it doesn’t look like it is going to start being eays at the weekend. The Eschuma will be looking to bounce back from that 71-3 thumping at the hands of the Homeboyz. With their home support firmly behind them, they should give the quartered shirts a real run for their money.
Michael Kiprono at the Machine blind wing has been impressive since I saw him at the Floodies, he will be a handful for the Quins defence. Along with the likes of Stanley Lunani, Kevin Njugi and Elphas Manya they should have enough to make it count.
Kabras Sugar v Top Fry Nakuru – (2.00pm, Kakamega High School)
After running last year’s second placed side at the Den, Kabras now host defending champions Nakuru in their first home match. Man City were impressive against KCB in Nairobi, managing to deny the Lions a winning bonus point, as a mater of fact, they could have claimed a losing bonus point on a different day. Eventually going down 13-3.
The sugar millers will however realise that this will be a different test for them, a much more sterner, meaner and more lethal challenge. They will however be buoyed by their display against an almost full house KCB side.
They will be looking to mark their first Kenya cup home game in style, and what better way than claiming one over the two time champions. This is however easier said than done, with Nakuru fresh from dismantling the Catholic Monks 112-6 at the NAC.
Nakuru are set to recall Giles Littlewood and Sammy Warui to the front row Javin Murayi and Martin Mwita should also get their first team nods here after playing in the ESS last weekend. The Wanyore will be out to make a statement here in the first meeting between these sides that share a greater relationship than meets the eye, with Family ties between the owners of Kabras sugar and those of Menengai Oil the two companies that sponsor these two.
Nick Barasa, Edwin Acahayo, Perminus Macharia, Polycarp Luaki and Dennis Mukabi will have to lead this Kabras side if they are to get anything here. They will also most probably recall Ken Isindu to the fold after playing in the ESS last weekend.
Nakuru will have an array of talent to pick from, Martin Owilla, Philip Kwame, Kelvin Omiyo, Leslie Ochieng, Mike Okombe just to mention a few. They will be looking to hand out another thrashing here.
Western Bulls v Mwamba – (4.00pm, Kakamega High School)
The second encounter at the Kakamega high school will be another match with a sponsors twist to it, with Western Bulls and Mwamba both sponsored by the lasrger Mumias Sugar company.
On the pitch, both sides come into this one off great day one wins at the same venue, Echulusi upsetting Nondies 19-17 in the early kick off at the Railway Club, with Mwamba eventually running over a stubborn Impala side 40-29.
These two played out a close encounter last time round at the same venue, with Mwamba narrowly picking up a 15-13 win. They met in a two legged friendly just before the season, so they do know each other perfectly.

The possible battle between Collins Injera and Davis Chenge will be one to behold as will the one between Elkins Musonye and Edwin ‘Pablo’ Machanje these two battles expected at the back row. Dennis Ombachi and Brad Owako are set to cause the Echulusi defence a load of problems at the centre of the park.
Other matches will see KCB travel to Mombasa looking for their second win of the season, with Nondies hosting the Catholic Monks looking for their first win after that narrow defeat at the hands of the Bulls.
Predictions :
KCB +60 over Mombasa – (4.00pm, MSC)
Nondies +60 over Catholic Monks – (4.00pm, Jamhuri Park)
Impala +5 over Homeboyz
Strathmore +20 over Blad
Quins +10 over Machine
Nakuru +30 over Kabras
Mwamba +5 over Bulls
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!