Local derby sees the return of the Mark Melville Cup

The Cup, named after the local rugby legend, has been in the possession of the Kangaroos since roughly 2006.

But with the Rhinos now back in Blowes Cup the annual battle for the prized trophy has returned.

"It's an absolute honour," Rhinos president Ian Burns said in relation to playing for the Cup.

"Mark Melville is a rugby legend and a bit of a rugby nut around here, you can talk to him about rugby of any level and he's just a fantastic fella so it definitely adds to the day."

Burns knows his club a mountainous challenge in order to get the Cup back into their possession.

The Rhinos are yet to win a match since their return to the competition this year while the Kangaroos sit fourth on the ladder.

But as Burns said, a derby is a big game no matter where it is played and he and the club are looking forward to the chance to battle with their crosstown neighbours once more.

"When we used to play the Roos when we were in Blowes before it was always an exciting week and everyone got more hyped up as the week went on," he said.

"But we're not expecting too much.

"We're very much getting used to the top grade and building sides for the future."

While still getting used to the competition, with this being the first time the side has played in Blowes since 2012, Burns has been pleased by the club's development up to this point.

He admitted there is still plenty to be done both on and off the field but said after a promising performance such as last week's against competition leaders Orange Emus, things were looking positive.

"On paper it was a bit of a mismatch but I left feeling buoyed on the day and the main thing is we keep on improving," he said, before saying how it will feel to see his side perform well against the Roos.

"I'll be very proud, as I am all the time when the boys run out and we're outgunned, outsized and even outskilled sometimes but the boys keep putting in.

"They never shy away from it."