For Tamworth FC striker Kurt Barrow there probably isn't a game - outside of a grand final - that means as much as the Dan Haslam Memorial.
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Barrow was behind establishing the charity match in memory of his good friend, and team-mate, following Haslam's passing in early 2015.
On Saturday he and his FC side will take on North Companions at Johnson Field in the annual clash.
Haslam loved his soccer and proudly wore the colours of both clubs, playing with Northies as a junior and his senior footy with FC.
"It's a good day just to remember a mate," Barrow said.
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And an inspiring one.
"When he was playing for us it was actually during his chemo treatments but he'd still turn up to training still turn up to games - that's fairly inspiring," Barrow noted.
It is usually a huge day.
All the FC sides play on the one field, they have a barbecue running from early in the morning and run raffles, with the day doubling as a fundraiser for United In Compassion, the charity the Haslam family founded to continue Dan's mission to advocate for patient access to medicinal cannabis in a safe, affordable and equitable way.
Due to the current climate and restrictions, they won't be able to do all that, but it will still be a special day.
Northies won the inaugural match but FC have held the trophy since then, although the contests have been pretty tight.
"There's always a good local rivalry there, they always step up to the plate when they play us," Barrow said.
He is looking forward to the contest. It will be the first time they have come up against one of the other former premier league sides and are preparing for their toughest hit-out of the season.
In saying that, Barrow said the teams they have been playing have "been good hit-outs". He has found it refreshing too facing a lot of unfamiliar teams, and faces.
The strike weapon has also in recent weeks found himself with a new partner in crime up front with Hayden Davidson pushing up there.
"Hayden and I have played together for years now. Generally he was at the other end of the park," he said.
"But over the years because he's fairly versatile he's kind come up front every now and then."
"I think we work quite well together. We're certainly different types of players, he's pretty quick and I can just hold the ball up for him and he can do all the running."
As for FC things are travelling along well, although they are "still definitely not at 100 per cent as to where we were."
"But I think everyone's in the same boat," Barrow said.
"We'll only get better as the year goes on and I think hit outs like this one and next week against OVA will give us a good indication as to where we're at."
In the other Round 6 fixtures, Gunnedah FC host Quirindi, OVA take on Kootingal and South United, fresh from picking up their first point of the season face Moore Creek.
