The second round of the ITM Cup pits the Bay boys up against the high flying Tasman Makos at ASB Baypark, with both teams at opposite ends of the competition following the opening week.

Bay of Plenty Steamers at the season launch. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Losing to the Southland Stags 34-28 in Invercargill, the Steamers will need to bring their A game in order to repel the Tasman side, which is boasting a number of Super Rugby stars and fresh from a 35-15 victory against Hawke's Bay.

Extra impetus could also be placed on the match as it marks 364 days since the Steamers last tasted ITM Cup victory – a 24-20 victory against Hawke's Bay at home.

Bay of Plenty Steamers coach Kevin Schuler is not buying into the concession this is playing on the side's minds, instead preferring to harness and develop the exciting club talent in his midst.

'One it is a very different and new team and we are playing a different type of rugby.

'But obviously first game nerves [against Southland] showed a bit of inexperience.”

This year's side sees seven of the 10 Bay of Plenty premier clubs represented on the back of what Schuler describes as some 'pretty strong club performances”.

A disastrous 2013 campaign left the side registering a single win – consigning them to the Championship Division in 2014.

Schuler, speaking to SunLive at this week's season launch, says the feeling among the team has been great throughout preseason with plenty of 'hard work” being put in.

The Steamers managed a 35-0 win against Hawke's Bay followed by a 21-19 loss to Counties Manukau in preseason.

With full confidence in the side, Schuler says it is only a matter of time before the first up jitters are forgotten and the side is able to make accurate decisions for the full 80 minutes.

The Steamers not only needs to ensure more wins are registered next to their name but also show their strong fan base what it's capable of, he says.

'We just want to play really well. But again we want to be a team that the public want to come and watch and really proud to see.

'ITM Cup is a fantastic competition full stop.”

The Bay of Plenty Steamers take on the Tasman Makos at ASB Baypark today at 4.35pm.

The curtain raiser between Bay of Plenty Development and North Harbour Development will kick off at 2.15pm.

Steamers line-up:

1. Kane Hames
2. Joe Royal
3. Mike Kainga
4. Culum Retallick
5. Tim Bond
6. Jesse Acton
7. Hamish Gosling
8. Joe Tupe
9. Jono Kitto
10. Dan Hollinshead
11. Leroy van Dam
12. Doug Edwards
13. Siaosi Iongi
14. Tino Nemani
15. Byron McGuigan
16. Nathan Harris
17. Pingi Tala'apitaga
18. Johan Bardoul
19. Carl Axtens
20. Te Aihe Toma
21. Te Rangi Fraser
22. Junior Tofa Va'a