To be held at Deniliquin’s Rotary Park, the match holds extra significance to both clubs as it is the third instalment of the Clark Jones Memorial Shield.
Jones was a past player for both Deni and the Border Raiders and is remembered fondly after his death in 2016.
Since then an annual contest has been held between the clubs in his memory.
The shield is a piece of silverware both clubs want their hands on — although Deni are yet to pry it away from the Border Raiders in their first two meetings.
At the first time of asking in 2017, the score was 3-0 to the green and black and in 2018 the twin towns side snagged the trophy 4-2.
Border Raiders president Darryl Brown said the trip up to Deniliquin is one the whole club looks forward to during its pre-season preparations.
‘‘Clark played with both Deni and our club and was absolutely one of our most well-liked players at the club,’’ Brown said.
‘‘He was a well-respected young man around the club and this is a great way, we think, to keep his memory alive within the soccer community.
‘‘His family are up in Deniliquin, but we have had many players over the course of the past five or six years who have played for both clubs.
‘‘Deni didn’t have the numbers for a first team for the longest time, but they do now and we’re keen to play.’’
The Clark Jones Memorial Shield is the second match of the Border Raiders’ pre-season preparations after Sunday’s impressive draw with Men’s State League 1 North West side Brimbank Stallions at Jack Eddy Oval.
Following the Shield match, the twin towns side is scheduled to play Kyneton on March 3 at home and hopes to secure a date to play Castlemaine before the beginning of the season in early April.
The Clark Jones Memorial Shield match will be played at Rotary Park in Deniliquin on Saturday, 3pm kick-off.
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