A dual under the lights tonight between the Shaunavon Shadows and Maple Creek Redmen to kick off the 2017 9-man football season.

The two teams meet once again at night in Shaunavon after a 2016 match up produced a 28-7 result in favour of the Redmen.

Maple Creek head coach Dale Udal says this season opener could help set the course for his young squad's season, after they lost a lot of seniors from the previous season.

"We lost a lot of grade 12s from last year, but at the same time, every group can either under-achieve or over-achieve," Udal said. "If we can get this group this year to play good football, then we're capable of being a competitive football team and winning games."

Meanwhile, on the other sideline, Shaunavon Shadows head coach Garett Glasrud says continuity among his team, with a large group of core players returning, is a positive ahead of the 2017 season.

"The good thing for us is the number of returning players that have been in the system the last couple of years," he said. "The playbook is familiar to them and that's an advantage for us as a team because we can roll into games and do a little bit more of advanced play-calling right away and the guys know what we're talking about."

Glasrud also mentions that with added excitement and anticipation among his players for the Friday night contest, the element of increased intensity is a bonus for a coach.

"For this game especially, I don't mind if there's a little extra emotion and I'd let them ride with it," he said. "Football is an emotional game and the atmosphere of a night game is pretty unique - so when we hit game time, if the energy is up and the excitement is flowing pretty fast, we'll just let them go with it."

Udal echoed that statement, also adding that the close proximity between the two towns increases the intensity even more.

"I'm just looking forward to a good rivalry game. We're rivals now just being the two schools that are closest to one-another in this part of the province," he said. "I expect them to have a good football team, and I expect us to come in and have a good game - it will be competitive."

As for 2016's season, Maple Creek finished conference play with a 4-2 record, before defeating both Melville and Clavet in the playoffs and claiming a silver medal in the provincial final after a 22-9 loss to the Lumsden Devils. The Shadows wrapped up their regular season with 2-4 record.

Catch all of the action live on the Eagle 94.1 tonight for Silver Sage Chevrolet Friday Night Lights Football with the Shaunavon Subway Pre-Game Show starting at 7 p.m., and kick-off at 7:15 p.m.