The battle for Bay of Plenty rugby supremacy heats up this weekend with 12 teams eager to set the Bayfair Baywide Premier Competition alight early on.

After preseasons matches in their respective regions, Western Bay of Plenty, Eastern Bay and Central Bay sides combine for the annual premier competition to see who will have their named etched on the trophy after Mount Maunganui's success in 2014.

The 12 respective teams at the Bayfair Baywide Premier Club Rugby Launch. Photo: Shannon Gray.

This year's competition sees six teams from the Western Bay, and three a piece from Eastern and Central Bay. Traditional heavyweights the Mount, Tauranga Sports and Whakarewarewa are this year joined by returning clubs Waikite and Whakatane Marist.

On Wednesday members from the premier rugby clubs, along with supporting members of the community gathered at Farmer Autovillage to celebrate the start of the 2015 season.

Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers and president Graeme Crossman, both wish the teams well for the season ahead.

'We are looking forward to this year's Bayfair Baywide Club competition. There has been great interest in the local round games with clubs reporting large numbers of supporters getting along to cheer on their teams,” says Rogers.

'The 2015 Baywide competition is shaping up as one that will deliver exciting games and great rugby that the community can get in behind and enjoy”.

Saturday sees a battle of the newcomers with Waikite hosting Whakatane Marist at Bellevue Road.

Both clubs return to the Bayfair Baywide Premier competition after stints in Division 1 and have clubs have previously won the Baywide Premier Competition - Waikite in 2000 and Whakatane Marist in 2004.

Waikite's performances and results during the local round have been mixed while Whakatane Marist has only suffered one loss during the Eastern Bay local round. This is bound to be a tough game with both teams eyeing a chance to get an early win.

Whakarewarewa, the 2014 runners-up, will provide a stern first up challenge for Paroa.

Whakarewarewa, traditionally one of the more prominent premier sides in the competition will not hold back against their Eastern Bay opponents.

Paroa are returning to the Bayfair Baywide premier competition having last appeared in 2013.

Whakarewarewa will be a tough challenge to face first up, but Paroa has been gathering form in the final weeks of the local round.

Te Puna has had the upper hand over Rangataua in the Western Bay of Plenty local round.

However, both teams finished 6th and 8th respectively last year.

They will be looking to improve on their results this year and this is bound to be a tough game with neither team willing to give anything away.

Greerton Marist travel to Rotoiti who remain unbeaten heading into the Baywide round.

Rotoiti will be looking to continue and build on their form as they progress through the Baywide competition while their opponents have struggled to gain form during the local Western Bay round.

Greerton Marist will be looking to regain their form from last year when they finished 5th.

Mount Maunganui, the 2014 premier champions, will provide a stern first-up challenge for Te Puke Sports.

Hosted at Blake Park big crowd is expected with the Mount looking to go back-to-back following their win over Te Puke Sports in the Western Bay local round.

Te Puke Sports, back-to-back winners of the Baywide premier competition in 2012 and 2013, will want to regain that same winning form starting this weekend.

The final match of the round sees current frontrunner Tauranga Sports away to Opotiki.

Opotiki is a close knit team who often prove hard to beat on their home ground and will want to highlight their intentions for the season by putting on a strong performance.

Tauranga Sports is a team with good depth and again look strong across all positions.

Both teams remain unbeaten after their local round and seem to bring the best out of each other.

All matches are at 2.30pm.

Bayfair Baywide Premier and Division One Teams:

Premier: Greerton Marist, Mount Maunganui Sports, Opotiki, Paroa, Rangataua, Rotoiti, Tauranga Sports, Te Puke Sports, Te Puna, Waikite, Whakatane Marist, Whakarewarewa Division 1: Arataki, Galatea, Judea, Kahukura, Katikati, Marist St Michael's, Ngonotaha, Poroporo, Rangiuru, Reporoa, Ruatoki, Te Teko.