Kenya Cup champions Kabras meet in KCB in an explosive Kenya Cup final at the Kakamega Showground at 3 pm on Saturday.
This will be the seventh final between the two giants. The bankers have five wins with Kabras' only win coming last year.
The bankers beat Kabras 27-3 in 2015, 36-8 in 2017, 29-24 in 2018, 23-15 in 2019, 28-25 in 2021 and lost 19-9 last year.
Kabras are chasing a fourth title. They bagged their maiden crown in 2016, beating Impala 22-5 in Nairobi.
Following a six-year drought, they came from behind to beat Menengai Oilers 34-28 in 2022 in Kakamega.
Kabras are playing in the final for the ninth consecutive year since gaining promotion to the top flight in the 2014 -2015 season.
In the head-to-head, the bankers have 11 wins while Kabras have five. Carlos Katywa's charges have won the past three. There has been one draw.
The bankers have made four changes for the mouthwatering showdown.
Skipper Griffin Musila returns to the starting lineup as a hooker, replacing James Ochieng'.
Kenya Sevens forward Elvis Olukusi replaces veteran Martin Owila at blindside flanker.
In the backs, Shujaa co-captain Vincent Onyala starts in the midfield in place of Trevor Odawa, partnering the destructive Bob Muhati.
Festus Shiasi and Kenya Under 20 captain Mike Wamalwa are on the wings.
Head coach Curtis Olago, speaking during a training session in Kisumu earlier in the week, said they are keen to seal all the loopholes that might have cost them in the last encounters.
“Our game against Kabras is always the one to watch. In the last two seasons, Kabras has not been kind to us. This is not encouraging for both the team and the fans. We are going all in to ensure we return to where we belong,” noted Olago.
Katywa will go for the tried and tested players including skipper George Nyambua, Eugene Sifuna, Ephraim Oduor and Kelvin Wekesa in the forwards.
Brian Tanga and Ntabeni Dukisa will form the halfback combination as Derrick Ashiundu and Walter Okoth start in midfield.
Griffin Chao, Alfred Orege and Lamech Ambetsa are the back three.
The weather may play a key role in determining strategy for both teams with heavy downpours experienced in Kakamega this week and the playing surface expected to be soggy.
The match will officiated by Constant Cap.
