However Libby Scott is a hot favourite to repeat her recent successes in the women's event.
A field of 30 will contest the men's singles, but no previous winners are among the entrants, while, as has been the trend in New Zealand circuit tournaments recently, the women's entries are lower, with only seven in the singles.
Top seeding in the men has gone to the Southland Open winner Oliver Cuthill, who previously had a scholarship at the University of New Orleans, but is now back playing in the South.
His closest rival, based on national rankings, is second seed Patrick Nolan, of Canterbury.
Third seeding has gone to Harry James, a boarder at John McGlashan College. James has represented New Zealand at junior level in Australia. The fourth seed is Alex Low, from Nelson, a student at the university. Low won the consolation event last year and has a fluent style which could him in good stead over a series of hard matches.
Others who could make an impact include George Milne (Hutt Valley), Robin Jamieson (North Otago) and Andrew Mitchell. The younger brigade could be led by Jong Kyu Kim, a Korean student, and Ryan Eggers from Balclutha.
In the women's event, Scott should realistically face major competition only from Georgia Hume, who has had plenty of hard matchplay in the Christchurch club competition. She has not only travelled there, but has played at national and international junior events to broaden her experience. There will be interest in whether she has closed the gap on her older rival.
The men's doubles look wide open,while Scott and Hume dominate the women's round robin draw.
The singles finals will be held late tomorrow morning, followed by the doubles semifinals, then finals.
