Bailey Honda (8) and the Lunas will open defense of their Division II state football championship against fifth-ranked Pearl City at Bino Nieves Stadium Saturday night. Glen Pascual | Special to SL

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If Pearl City football coach Robin Kami has any lingering questions about his team heading into the season, he figures to get some answers right off the bat.

The Chargers, who are ranked fifth in the ScoringLive/Hawaiian Electric Division II Power Rankings, will host defending state champion and top-ranked Lahainaluna in a marquee non-league game Saturday night.

Kickoff at Bino Neves Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The teams met at the Lunas' Sue D. Cooley Stadium to open the 2016 season, with the hosts cruising to a 29-0 win.

Lahainaluna rushed for 245 of its 370 yards of total offense and held Pearl City to a mere 54 yards.

Lunas' co-head coach Garret Tihada cautioned that the final score was quite misleading.

"They had a lot of kids on academic probation that couldn't make the trip," Tihada said. "I think eleven starters were out last year. I think that would have been a big, big difference. I don't think it's going to be like that this year. I really expect a good battle."

Kami, who enters his fifth season leading the Chargers, said the academic casualties will be minimal this year.

"Maybe only seven players will be out, compared to the past year where we had 18 to 20, so we should have our decent players on the field Saturday," Kami said.

Pearl City went 5-4 last season and finished fourth in the nine-team Oahu Interscholastic Association D2. Among its top returnees is defensive end Zion Tupuola-Fetui, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound senior, who also doubles as the punter.

Other players to watch include Kasey Kikuyama, a senior free safety/running back, Jeremiah Taamu-Perifanos, a senior offensive tackle/defensive end, Isaiah Asinsin, a senior quarterback/wide receiver and senior wide receiver Calvin Mock.

"We have a lot of new players on offense — and defense — so hopefully we can get together and jell together before the (regular) season starters," said Kami, who noted a win on the opening week is not the end goal.

"At the end of the day, for us guys, it's not about wins and losses in the preseason. It's about the lessons that we can learn from this game, but if we have the opportunity to score and go ahead, hey, we're going to try," Kami said.

Kami's focus is solely on his team; after all, he knows what to expect from the Lunas.

"I've been watching them play for the last five years that I've been here and every year they're in the D2 state final," Kami said. "They basically do the same things from year to year and they do it very, very well, so I don't see changes that they will do from last year."

With a roster that includes a trio of returning All-Hawaii D2 selections in offensive lineman Ikaika Viela and defensive backs Siale Hafoka and Bailey Honda, Kami expects a stiff challenge from Lahainaluna.

"Lahaina is always going to be a top three team in the state in D2, so we want to see where we stand with them and what we need to work on — both the goods and the bads will come out — so that's why we scheduled this game," Kami said. "I'm hoping that we can stick together regardless of what happens and whatever the outcome, just make sure we execute and play a good game. I know we're playing a very good team, a well-oiled machine with good coaches and kids who have been running that system for a long time, so hopefully we can compete and give them a good game."

Tihada's expectations for the weekend are very similar.

"I'm hoping to see some of our leaders step up and take control of this team," he said. "Just like any other preseason game, we're just trying to make sure we're fundamentally sound and we'd like to try to get as many players as we can in the game and get some looks at them."

The Lunas posted a 9-4 record in 2016, which culminated in a 21-14 win over top-seeded Kapaa resulting in their first state football crown. But that is all in the past, Tihada said.

"Nobody is really talking about it at all. This senior class just wants to make their own mark," Tihada said. "I think maybe the only effect we had from (winning) was that we got a lot of kids to turn out, but other than that, as far as our returning kids, none of them are looking at last year. They know that whatever they do in the weight room and on the field is going to determine how they do this year; It has nothing to do with last year."

Tihada said 48 of the 59 players on the roster will make the trip. It will be the first time Lahainaluna is playing a non-league game on Oahu since facing Tafuna (Samoa), in a game played at Nanakuli in 1997.