Two rinks from the Oilfields Curling Club are in Lacombe for the start of the Men's U-18 Provincial Curling Playdowns Friday.

The Jacob Libbus and Jared Palanuik rinks will try to capture their first ever Alberta crowns.

Libbus says with a month long layoff between the Southern's and Provincials they'd had to spend a lot of time practicing to keep sharp.

"We've been practicing every day, along with playing games against each other. Trying to get ready for the level of competition that we'll be playing. We've been going back to the basics and making sure that we get done and do what we can do, and control what we can going into it."

The format for the U-18's is different than other bonspiels as they won't have a weekend playoff format, instead determining the winner through a round robin with the team with the best record after five draws the champions.

The playdowns run through Sunday.

(L-R) Jared Palanuik, Liam Purcell, Nick Warkman, Spencer Schneider, and Coach Mike Libbus - Photo courtesy the Olfields Curling Academy.