A strong, even field of 32 with an international flavour will contest the Otago men's tennis open this weekend, with any of the eight seeds capable of winning the title.
Only seven women have entered their event but it includes several national and international players.
Top seeding in the men goes to former winner and Canterbury representative Vaughn Kingi.
He will need to be at full fitness to take five singles matches as well as doubles in two days.
Second and third seedings go to Canadian coaches Tyler Begg, who is working in Queenstown, and Ryan Chow, who coaches in Wanaka.
Both have international experience and will provide interest in how they match up locally.
Begg recently won the West Coast Open.
Dunedin's Conrad Wong is seeded fourth and is now the main local hope, after Dwayne Cleugh, originally seeded sixth-equal, based on national computer rankings, was a late withdrawal.
Fifth seed is Randolph Kirk, an American who formerly played in Auckland.
An interesting entrant is the eighth seed, Jan Carboch, from the Czech Republic.
As a complete unknown ranked 150 in his country, he could well be worthy of a higher ranking in this event.
Mattias Wieland (Canterbury) adds to the international names, while several other entries from Canterbury, North Otago and Southern Lakes add to the puzzle.
Several young Otago players have taken the opportunity to measure themselves against the visitors and the consolation events will maintain interest to the end.
The women's draw has attracted Leela Beattie, who has represented New Zealand at junior level since her pre-teens.
Beattie was playing the world junior circuit when Dunedin's Libby Scott earlier won the national 16s title.
Beattie is also 16 and can count a straight-sets win over national senior rep Kairangi Vano among her scalps.
However, she should find Scott and Queenstown's Louise Oxnevad worthy opponents.
Scott and Oxnevad recently won the national junior teams event for Southern.
Another member of that squad, Sian English, has also entered.
Felicity Oxnevad, a world-rated veteran and mother of Louise, will add further to the mix.
Top seedings in doubles have gone to Begg and Chow in the men and Beattie and Scott in the women.
Play begins today at 9am and continues until tomorrow evening.
