An annual Can-Am battle will descend on Edmonton, Alberta, in mid-June as the USA U20s and Canada U20s face off in a two-game series to qualify for the World Rugby U20 Trophy.

It's a harsh reality that only one North American team qualifies for the Trophy every year, but that just adds more meaning to this series, which continues June 13 an June 17 at Ellerslie Rugby Park

For USA U20 head coach JD Stephenson, it's been the usual difficult task of finding players who are the right age, have the ability, and are available. Late injuries and various other unavailabilities have once again reared their heads, and with Stephenson and his staff already contemplating some position changes, these player availability issues have forced the Junior All-Americans to shift around a little but more.

Notable in the U20 roster is the presence of players from some prominent college programs such as Cal and Saint Mary's. This is a direct result of an open communication channel between Stephenson and those college programs, letting everyone know what's expected and what the timeline is for the team. 

The players themselves have been on weekly conference calls to discuss game plans, preparation, and plays. Stephenson is putting in a new attack plan and working on a lineup that should match up nicely with the Canadians.

Stephenson has moved some players around to get more mobility in the pack, and, as we've seen in the past, a few No. 8s are now props and a few flyhalves now fullbacks.

Here's a look at the roster and some notes on the players:

Prop

Chance Wenglewski -- Lindenwood University 
Payton Telea -- Saint Mary's College (pictured above)
Jordan Crofts -- Pennsylvania State University 
Brian Nault -- Central Washington University 
Jacob Jorstad -- San Diego State University 

Nault (Shelton High School, WA) is really a flanker who is built a bit like a front-rower. He will play both positions. Jorstad was No. 8 for San Diego State and brings those overall skills to the front row, where he seems best suited at the higher levels. Telea (Archbishop Riordan, CA) impressed during the Saint Mary's tour of Ireland so much that one team was thinking about offering him a contact on the spot. Telea can move around the park. Wenglewski (Union HS, OK) and Crofts (Skyline, UT) are more traditional, grind-you-down props.

Hooker

Jack Iscaro -- University of California 
Martin Keuchkerian -- Mystic River Rugby Club 

Iscaro was considered a big prop as a High School All-American at Gonzaga (D.C) and now is at hooker. He is a solid all-around athlete. Keuchkerian is another all-around athlete who has good ball skills. An Uruguayan-born player with an Armenian name, he won a Higgins Scholarship this fall and goes from the Mystic River U19 team to the University of Virginia.

Lock

Tommy Clark -- American International College 
Nafitalai Maafu -- Tempe Old Devils 
Josh Schnell -- Katy Barbarians  (pictured above)
Daemon Torres -- Life University 
Deven Marshall -- Central Washington University

Clark (Budd Bay, WA) was a standout freshman at lock for AIC and is very good in the air. Maafu was impressive for the High School All-Americans as a player who can get the job done in tight and play in the open field -- once he starts running, he's tough to catch. Texans Schnell (Katy) and Torres (Round Rock) bring a bit more power to this job. Marshall, originally from Zimbabwe, is a powerful runner and strong in th air. He qualifies for the USA through his dad.

Flanker

Brian Nault -- Central Washington University 
Justin Johnson -- Life University 
Nafitalai Maafu -- Tempe Old Devils (pictured above)
Jack Miller -- University of Colorado 
Malon Al-Jiboori -- Men's Eagles Sevens

We touched on Nault already. Johnson was a lock at California's Mira Costa High School but has turned into a big, rangy flanker. We covered Maafu, who is all kinds of trouble wherever he packs down. Malon Al-Jiboori is the same sort of player. The Union High School (OK) product is as comfortable in the backline as in the maul. Miller learned the game in Hong Kong and was a HSAA player in Brookline, MA. The Colorado freshman is smart and savvy.

No. 8

Bailey Wilson -- United Varsity Rugby
Malon Al-Jiboori -- Men's Eagles Sevens

Wilson has been asked to do pretty much everything for United. The HSAA No. 8 who captained the Utah select side at the Rosslyn Park 7s will have to relearn to let his teammates carry the load a bit more. He's a leader. Al-Jiboori is a spectacular option at 8.

Scrumhalf

Ruben De Haas -- Little Rock Rugby Club (pictured above)
Noah Niumataiwalu -- Saint Joseph's University 

De Haas is another HSAA player with leadership ability. He can run an offense and also is an opportunist. Niumataiwalu is very versatile and really could play anywhere in the backline.

Flyhalf

Samuel Walsh -- Scots College (NZL) 
Christian Dyer -- University of California

Walsh was identified at an Atavus Camp. He was born in Boston, and his mother is American. But he plays his rugby at school in New Zealand. He has shown he has the motivation to be an Eagle, embracing the patriotism side of the equation as well as the late-night conference calls and work rate. Dyer was a High School All-American with Jesuit and is just getting started at Cal. He's smart and can play both flyhalf and fullback.

Center

Quinn Perry -- Santa Monica Dolphins 
Aaron Matthews -- Saint Mary's College (pictured above)
Lorenzo Thomas -- Lindenwood University 
Peter Howard -- Naas RFC (IRL) 

Perry is another High School All-American and one who could play flyhalf if needed. He's a physical presence. Matthews was a HSAA while at Back Bay and still qualifies for U20s despite being a sophomore. He has played all over the backline, but as a center he can use his shiftiness and his power. Thomas (Union High School, OK) has already been capped at the senior level. He's a straight-ahead runner and someone defenses have to respect. Howard came to the U20 program late. He qualifies for the USA through his parents, and he has the versatility to play center, wing, and fullback.

Wing

Deion Mikesell -- Lindenwood University 
Harley Wheeler -- Life University  
Jaret Williamson -- St. Bonaventure University  

Mikesell was an Eagle Impact Rugby Academy find out of SE Polk in Iowa and recruited to Lindenwood by Stephenson before the coach moved on to USA Rugby. He is quick, has been capped at the senior level, and is strong enough to play wing at the international level.

Wheeler is a product of South Doyle High School in Tennessee and can play center as well. But at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, maybe wing is the place for him. His defense is a key part of the equation.

Williamson is perhaps the true utility back. A product of the St. Edward program in Ohio, he was a select side player there, and while not specially tall, he is strong and powerful.

Fullback

Cristian Rodriguez -- Lindenwood University 
Christian Dyer -- University of California (pictured above)

We've touched on Dyer -- he's got good kicking skills as well. The Hawaiian Garden product out of Southern California was impressive for Lindenwood in its USA College 7s win. Another compact but aggressive back, Rodriguez is an excellent counter-attacking option.

Goalkicking will be a question with this team, as it is without last year's hero, Ben Cima. Walsh, Dyer, de Haas, and Perry can all kick -- the question is, who is the right one?

Obviously this is a team built around mobility and athleticism. But it also is a team built around using the daily training environments at the players' disposal. Almost all of the players are at varsity rugby programs or elevated club programs. If they aren't, they're in a serious age-grade program or work closely within the High School All-American or Eagle Impact Rugby Academy systems. Perhaps only Jorstad, Keuchkerian, and Niumataiwalu have been able to rely on more of their own resources.