Local junior Libby Scott has been given top seeding in the women, after strong showings in the recent national junior teams event.
Hector Garcia, a Mexican coach working in Timaru,won two rounds of the Canterbury championships, won by Dan King-Turner recently, and has taken the No 1 men's seeding.
Vaughan Kingi (Canterbury), the current Otago indoor titleholder, has been seeded second.
Jono Ussher (Taranaki) has had a busy January, with plenty of match play and takes third seeding.
Fourth seed is Cantabrian Julian Main, whose big serving game could take him a long way.
Local hopes rest with Stephen Hollands, a former titleholder, Andrew Mitchell and Tim Breitbarth.
Harry James (Queenstown) represented New Zealand at junior level in Australia and has been seeded sixth.
Scott has the form background at junior level to take her first senior provincial women's title.
Emma Johns and Jessie Watson have the ability to win if they strike form quickly.
Johns is the current title holder and Watson is talented but erratic.
Local junior Lauren Fowler takes the opportunity to measure herself at senior level while Beth Williams (Canterbury) and Brittany Wong could take advantage of any lapses by the favourites.
Play begins at noon today and continues tomorrow, with Sunday available to complete matches if needed.
