At a subduction zone, it's the oceanic plate that is most likely to descend into the interior.

Here's why:

* Density: Oceanic plates are denser than continental plates due to their composition (primarily basalt). This density difference is crucial for subduction.

* Age: Older oceanic plates are colder and denser than younger ones. As they move away from mid-ocean ridges, they cool and become more susceptible to subduction.

* Convergence: At a subduction zone, two tectonic plates collide. The denser plate (usually the oceanic plate) is forced to bend and slide beneath the less dense plate (often continental).

Note: While oceanic plates typically subduct, there are rare instances where a continental plate can subduct, usually when a continental plate is extremely dense and collides with another continental plate. This process is less common than oceanic plate subduction.