Sekone-Fraser is ranked second in the 94kg weight class behind only Richie Patterson, who is heading to next month's Rio Olympics.
The Cantabrian is no stranger to big events, having represented New Zealand at several international competitions, including the recent Oceania Weightlifting Championships in Fiji, where he placed fifth.
He was also named an Olympic Weightlifting New Zealand high performance squad candidate and has won best male lifter at the South Island Championships several times.
Fellow Cantabrian Andy Barakauskas is also ranked second in the country, in the 105+kg weight class, and will take some beating in that category.
Barakauskas also finished fifth at the Oceania Championships in Fiji and was named as an OWNZ high performance squad candidate.
In the women's draw, Otago's Amanda Gould, ranked third in New Zealand in the 63kg and 69kg weight classes, should be a medal contender.
Gould represented New Zealand in the 63kg class at the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea last year and claimed bronze at the Oceania Championships in the 69kg class.
She has twice been named best female lifter at the South Island championships.
Fellow Otago lifter Savannah Rose-Corbett has won the South Island and national 75+kg junior titles for the past two years and is making the step up to the senior level for the first time this weekend.
More than 70 lifters are registered for the event at Crossfit Dunedin in Princes Street, up from 53 competitors last year.
The event runs tomorrow and Sunday.
