More than 500 students will fight for their university's pride next week as teams from the University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University prepare to do battle.
The largest university sporting event in Britain - the Granite City Challenge is now in its 17th year and is always closely contested with local bragging rights at stake.
The University of Aberdeen triumphed in the challenge last year, winning by a seven point margin.
This year the event will be held on Wednesday, March 19 and the two teams will go head-to-head across 30 sports including downhill mountain biking, Gaelic football, cricket, rifle shooting, trampolining, waterpolo, rowing and climbing.
Other sports such as football, rugby and badminton are also on the challenge programme.
The RGU team comes into the event in high spirits having won their third consecutive Aberdeen Universities Boat Race which was held at the start of the month.
Paddy Maughan, President for Sport and Physical Activity at RGU, is enthusiastic about the event and is looking forward to continuing the local rivalry.
He said: “I’m very excited to have so many sporting activities happening right on our doorstep against our local rivals. We are working more and more closely with the University of Aberdeen to promote sport to students and it is important to maintain a healthy rivalry.
“With so many of our teams performing well this year, and with our recent victory in the boat race, I am definitely looking forward to the day.”
Aberdeen University Student Association (AUSA) President for Sport, Marc McCorkell echoed Paddy’s thoughts and hopes large numbers of supporters turnout on the day.
“Granite City Challenge is a definite highlight in the Aberdeen University sporting calendar” said Marc.
“The friendly rivalry with RGU is always looked forward to by our sports clubs and this year we hope to have more spectators than ever before cheering on both universities on the sidelines.”
The day will be jam-packed with sporting fixtures will take place at various venues across the cityincluding RGU: SPORT, Curl Aberdeen, Countesswells Playing Fields, Pitfichie Forest and Aberdeen Sports Village.