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When it comes to Super Rugby rivalries, none stretches back further than that between the Blues and Hurricanes.
The two sides battled out the first ever match in the competition in 1996 when it was known as the Super 12. The Blues were victorious 36-28 in Palmerston North.
The Auckland side went on to win the inaugural competition, with a 45-21 win over the Sharks.
The following season the Hurricanes fell just short, losing 45-42 to the Blues at Eden Park. The Auckland team went on to win back-to-back titles at home.
The Blues won their third Super 12 title in 2003 after thrashing the Hurricanes 60-7 the previous year.
In 2004, nothing could separate the two teams in a 26-26 draw at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
In 2005, the Hurricanes managed to grab their first win against the Blues with a 22-10 victory at Eden Park.
Since then, the Wellington team has gone on to win 11 of their last 18 encounters with the Blues.
The Hurricanes won their last meeting 28-24 at Eden Park in April last year.
The Blues will be looking to make a strong start this season after failing to reach the play-offs since 2011.
The Hurricanes were knocked out of the competition at the semi-final stage last year by the Lions in South Africa. They are searching for a second Super Rugby title after winning the title in 2016.
