VANCOUVER – Friday, August 28, it's a date most Thunderbird soccer players had circled on their calendars. It's the day the T-Birds battle the SFU Clan, and while it is only preseason, the game still carries with it, city bragging rights.

This will be the one and only meeting between the two teams this season. The Thunderbirds and Clan play in different leagues.

"It's a rivalry that goes back decades. It's to bad not all the school's sports teams got the opportunity to face our crosstown rivals." said UBC Head Coach Mike Mosher.

The game will have a bit of an extra special meaning for Justin Wallace. The first year T-Bird played at SFU a couple of years ago, before transferring. "I enjoyed my time at SFU and I respect the program and certainly what it provided me over the two years I was there. Both teams possess a lot of quality players which will be fun to watch and be a part of."

Wallace added, "Ryan Dhillon is a good friend of mine and someone I was fortunate enough to play with at SFU and with him going into his final year as well. It makes Friday's game special on a personal level as well."

This will be the Thunderbirds' fourth-and-final non-conference game. The real season begins a week Saturday versus the University of Victoria. "I like what I have seen so far," said Mosher. "We lost a lot of guys from last year's team, there are a lot of new faces. But we are all getting to know each other, and the players are learning what we as coaches expect from them."

This will be the last chance Mosher and his coaching staff will have to evaluate his team. Kick off at Thunderbird Stadium tomorrow night is set for 7:30 p.m.