The first round of matches in the Pacific Rugby Cup competition kicks off this week, which will see the best two teams in Fiji, the Fiji Warriors and Fiji Barbarians, Tautahi Gold and Tau'uta Reds from Tonga and Savai'i and Upolu Samoa from Samoa battle it out.

The Fiji Warriors are the defending champions and team manager, Isei Rayawa said pressure will be on his team to defend the Cup and they will not give away the game so easily to their closest rivals, the Fiji Barbarians.

Rayawa added the game will be a tough encounter between the two teams as all these players play together and understand each other's style of play.

However, Rayawa has told his boys to put "friendship" aside and treat this game as the final.

The Fiji Warriors and Fiji Barbarians match kicks off at 5pm on Thursday at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, and you can catch a live commentary of the match on our sister station Viti FM.