This includes four members of the men's team that will be attempting to retain the World Bowls teams title in Adelaide in November. It was won for the first time in Christchurch in 2008.
Included in the 32-strong field for the 22nd annual Speight's North East Valley Invitation Singles are Sydney-based Matt Gallop, Shannon McIlroy (Nelson), Ali Forsyth (Sydney) and Tony Grantham (Auckland).
Grantham won the event last year.
The field also includes former New Zealand representative Justin Goodwin (Auckland), the winner in 2010. McIlroy has won the event twice in 2006 and 2008.
Other former winners competing are North East Valley's Shaun Scott (2009), Canterbury's Andrew Curtain (1991 and 2003), North East Valley's Jim Scott (2000 and 2001), Dunedin's Mike Kernaghan (1999) and Ken Walker (1990).
Walker is the top-ranked member of the New Zealand Professional Bowls Association and he reached top form when he won the Transtasman PBA singles title this year.
Also in the field are Andrew Kelly (Canterbury), Dan Delany (Auckland) and Shaun Scott, who are members of the elite New Zealand squad.
The tournament is widely regarded as not only the best singles event held annually in New Zealand but also as the best invitation event. The total prizemoney is $15,000, with the winner's purse $5000.
The event now clashes with the finals of the Australian state championships and the New South Wales premier league, which stopped some top Australian bowlers from coming to Dunedin.
Players making their debut in the event are new international Pat Houlahan (Central Otago), Craig Gush (Manawatu) and Craig Merrilees (Southland) who reached the New Zealand finals of the PBA this year.
Kelvin Budge won the North East Valley singles and is included in the field. Other club bowlers are involved in a qualifying event at the moment and four more will be added to the field.
Two bowlers qualify from each section for post-section play and a chance to win the main event.
The event will be held at the North East Valley greens from October 19-22.
NEV Invitation singles
The field
Section 1: Dave Archer (Dunedin), Shaun Scott NEV), Barrie Andrews (Timaru), Raika Gregory (Waikato), Matt Gallop (Sydney), Scott Cottrell (Auckland), Craig Merrilees (Southland), Terry Scott (North East Valley).
Section 2: Justin Goodwin (Auckland), Ken Walker (Dunedin), Andrew Curtain (Canterbury), Ali Forsyth (Sydney), Andrew Kelly (Canterbury), Kelvin Budge (NEV), Steve Beel (Bay of Plenty) and NEV qualifier.
Section 3: Craig Gush (Manawatu), Andre Smith (Marlborough), Mike Kernaghan (Dunedin), Pat Houlahan (Central Otago), Shannon McIlroy (Nelson), Shayne Sincock (Canterbury) and two NEV qualifiers.
Section 4: Chris Le Lievre (Auckland), Mark Watt (NEV), Tony Grantham (Auckland), Bill Clements (Central Otago), Jim Scott (NEV), Dan Delany (Auckland), Peter Wilson (Dunedin) and NEV qualifier.
