Puppy Bowl XIV will feature two guest puppies rescued from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria

Who will win 'Most Valuable Puppy?'

Puppy Bowl XIV will feature special puppy guests rescued after Hurricane Maria (Animal Planet)

The most important sports game of the year is hitting the airwaves – and we’re not talking about the Super Bowl.

This year’s Puppy Bowl XIV, hosted by Animal Planet, is airing on Super Bowl Sunday, and is featuring some special guests.

Partaking in the fun are two puppies from Puerto Rico, who will be joining Team Ruff and Team Fluff to raise awareness – while they compete for MVP, or Most Valuable Puppy.

Each year the Puppy Bowl raises awareness for puppies that need adoption, featuring only teams of puppies that are in need of life-long homes.

But this year, guest puppies Kaleb Jr and Archer will be joining the ranks of professional puppies – for an important reason.

According to Bustle, the two puppy guests have arrived via Puerto Rico, where their homes were destroyed during Hurricane Maria.

Sent by the organisation, The Sato Project, the two rookies have already found new forever homes – but they will be showing off their skills in the Puppy Bowl to raise awareness for all the work that still needs to be done in Puerto Rico.

Archer will be playing for Team Ruff (Animal Planet)

And while puppies from Puerto Rico have been sent to compete for MVP in the Puppy Bowl for the last seven years, this year is different.

According to Chrissy Beckles, the founder of The Sato Project, who spoke to Bustle: “The Puppy Bowl has certainly taken on a different meaning for our organisation this year. The crisis in Puerto Rico is far from over.”

There will be over 90 puppies in Puppy Bowl XIV (Animal Planet)

Since the hurricane hit Puerto Rico in September, the organisation has rescued an astounding 1,000 dogs – compared to the yearly average of 300 to 350.

And because access to power has limited the organisation’s ability to spay and neuter the puppies, Beckles told Bustle: “We’re seeing more [unintended] puppies being born than ever, more so than I’ve ever seen in the 11 years I’ve been working in Puerto Rico.”

With this Puppy Bowl set to be the biggest ever, with over 90 fluffy pups competing for the “Lombarky Trophy,” Beckles hopes viewers will do whatever they can to help – and believes “There’s no better time for a Puerto Rican MVP of Puppy Bowl.”

The Puppy Bowl regularly draws millions of viewers – with last year’s audience reaching over 13m dog-lovers – and the puppies always ending up adopted, whether they win or lose.

All of the puppies playing in the Puppy Bowl need homes (Animal Planet)

And although Kaleb Jr. and Archer already have new homes, The Sato Project and this year’s Puppy Bowl will be featuring many other puppies looking for loving new homes.

Puppy Dragonfly will be playing for Team Fluff (Animal Planet)

The event will be aired before the Super Bowl on Animal Planet, or you can watch the Puppy Bowl online.