Volleyball champions Malava Boys and AIC Kosirai Girls will be favourites to retain their titles at the secondary schools national Term Two 'B' games which begin in Kisumu on Tuesday.
The giants will also be aiming to go one better and lift the East African title. Kenya is set to host the regional showpiece later this month in Eldoret.
Malava will be gunning for a fourth title while Kosirai, who dethroned two-time Kenya and East African champions Kwanthanze, will be seeking a second successive title.
Malava had to rally from 2-0 down to edge out Butula Boys 3-2 in the Nzoia Region final held in Lodwar last month. They are banking on the same fighting spirit to inspire them to another national title.
During last year's final at the Machakos Boys, Malava edge the 2013 champions Hospital Hill 3-0 in the final. They won 25-19, 27-25, 25-18 in a pulsating final to win their third title.
Malava coach Shadrack Tovoko said his team must be on top of their game for them to retain the title.
"Our competitors want our title. We need to rise up to the occasion and show what we are worth," Tovoko told Daily Nation Sport.
POOL OF DEATH
In Kisumu, Tovoko's charges have been grouped in arguably the pool of death that has Hospital Hill, three-time national champions Cheptil High (Mau) and a yet to be identified team from Northern Region.
Tovoko is relishing the prospects on facing Hospital Hill and Cheptil.
In Pool 'A', Lake Region's Chianda will tackle Waa Boys from Coast Region, Kanyubora (Highlands) and Aberdare Region's Tetu.
All eyes will be on Mau Region's Kosirai to match last year's feat, which saw them topple regional queens Kwanthanze.
In Machakos last year, Kosirai underlined their intentions of winning the national title after eliminating 22-time champions Lugulu Girls in the semi-final and completed their giant-killing act with a hard fought 25-21, 22-25, 25-18, 15-25, 15-10 win over East Africa champions Kwanthanze.
"Competition will be stiffer this year but we are ready to go all the way to the final," said Kosirai coach Richard Soi.
His team are in pooled Soweto Academy, St John's Kaloleni and a team from Northern Region.
