One exhibition game.

One game to evaluate, make adjustments and then - the wins and losses count for real.

The Steinbach Regional Secondary School football team will meet the Miles Macdonell Buckeyes today at 5 p.m. at A.D. Penner Park.

"The excitement is always there to begin the new year," said Sabres head coach Jamie Peters as his team continues to prepare for the school's sixth season in the Winnipeg High School Football League. "The boys have been working hard for the last week and we're looking forward to seeing what we have on the field."

With a number of first year players in the lineup, Peters says he expecting a typical preseason game.

"I'm sure there will be a little bit of chaos in terms who is on what special teams and we'll try and work ourselves through that because we didn't run specials in spring," Peters said. "Just hoping that some of our grade 12's and our grade 11's step up and fill the roles of the graduates from last years team and looking for some of the new players to step up and make some plays and see what kind of team we're going to shape up into."

As for the playbook - Peters did confirm it will be a little thin for their lone exhibition game.

"It's a slow install again. We're back down to maybe 40% of what we were running at the end of last year so we'll slowly build it back up. We'll run the plays that we need to run to get the guys ready for what's ultimately the goal which is the September 10th regular season opener."

The Sabres, who will again play in the WHSFL's Kas Vidruk "AA" Division, kick off season six in Winnipeg against the River East Kodiaks one week from today.