After a 46-14 victory over Lethbridge in their home opener, the UBC Thunderbirds (1-1) aim to make it two wins in a row when they play the visiting Alberta Pandas (2-1) on Sunday, September 22^nd.
 
The T-Birds have needed to lean on their depth in the early going of the Canada West season, with a number of players in and out of the lineup. Nine different Thunderbirds have scored tries through their first two matches, with plenty of first and second-year athletes getting the chance to fight for minutes.
 
"Considering we have not had the greatest of preparation due to athletes being injured or away with the national team, we have played some good rugby," said Thunderbirds head coach Dean Murten. "I would like us to finish a lot of the opportunities we're creating. We will not get as many opportunities as the season continues, so whatever we get, we must get points."


 
After starting their year on the road in Victoria, the T-Birds are now set to play their second of four straight home matches to close the short regular season. Their opponents for this week are the Pandas, who are 2-1 with two wins over Calgary and a loss to Lethbridge.
 
The Thunderbirds have won seven of their last eight meetings against Alberta, including a 74-0 victory in their matchup last season.
 
UBC enters the weekend ranked #6 in U SPORTS, having been ranked as high as #3 this season. This weekend's match is another important step in the Thunderbirds' quest for both a fifth straight Canada West title and first-ever national championship. With only five games on the schedule before playoffs, each one matters that much more for both positioning in the rankings and sharpening the team's play as a unit.


 
"We have to focus on what we call the Big Rocks – things that really matter," said Murten. "We have to provide clarity on what we want the team to do, and we can't have any confusion. We have to keep everyone fit and healthy while also pushing them hard over the next 4 weeks."
 
Sunday's clash with the Pandas begins at 1:00 p.m. (PT) at the Gerald McGavin UBC Rugby Centre.