The best of the best from around the lower South Island will compete in Balclutha this weekend.
The AS Paterson Trophy southern zone six event will be hosted by the South Otago Indoor Bowls Association, with the best eight players from South Canterbury, North Otago, Central Otago, Southland and South Otago vying for honours.
South Otago publicity officer David Fenton said it was one of the major events on the calendar.
There will be a round robin of fours, pairs and singles to find the eventual zone winner.
Five other zones throughout the country will play simultaneously to find the other winners to go on to the Welch Trophy final in September.
Fenton said hopes were high for the South Otago team.
The last time Balclutha hosted the event, in 2000, the local team came "perilously close" to winning, by finishing just one point behind Otago.
Four of that team - Eileen Grant, Robert Wilson, Murray Grant and Graham Hill - will again feature for the South Otago combination, alon gwith Stephen Preddy, Mark Preddy, Colleen Fenton and David Fenton.
The reserve is Russell Body and team manager is Horace McAuley.
The tournament will be held at the Balclutha War Memorial Hall.
