One of the biggest - and most curious - pre-season rugby league crowds in recent years is expected to fill Centenary Field at Albion Park for next month's highly anticipated trial between Albion Park-Oak Flats and Collegians.

Debate has raged for years over which team is the region's best and now the region's league followers get to find out.

Group Seven premiers Albion Park-Oak Flats will lock horns with Carlton League titleholders Collies on March 8 and both sides are expected to treat the game as a full-scale battle.

The Eagles have lost just three games in three years and are relishing the chance to measure themselves against the Dogs.

Both sides will be eager to claim bragging rights.

"We're the premiers here and they're the premiers in town. Even though it's a trial, we don't like losing and I'm sure they'll approach it the same way, so it should be interesting," Albion Park co-coach Ian Jones said.

"Their comp is stronger across the board, but we've been the strongest side in Group Seven for a few years and you can only gauge yourself against what's in front of you.

"Collies will play that professional-style game and do all the little things right, so we'll have to be up for that. We're looking forward to it. People are talking about it around Albion Park and they've said they can't wait for it, so we should get a pretty good crowd. We'll have one or two blokes out, but it's our last trial before the comp starts so we'll probably pick a fairly strong side."

Last season's NSW Country centre Simon Piminovs has scrapped plans to retire and re-signed with the Eagles for 2008, while Cole Skelly has returned after a year's retirement.

However, injuries might keep Piminovs and rugged second rower Steve Butfield out of the trial.

The Dogs have added former Dragons Reece Simmonds and Keiran Kerr to their line-up after losing Lee Finnerty and Matt Karika.

Captain-coach Gavin Clinch said his side will be keen to make a statement about which team is best.

"Once we got the trial confirmed, a lot of people have spoken about it. It seems like everyone wants to see the result and how the teams match up against each other," Clinch said.

"It'll be a good test for both teams and I know we're really looking forward to it. A lot of people have wanted to see this game happen for a while."