Kernaghan was a key member of the New Zealand four that won the gold medal in the fours in Christchurch last December.
As a lead-up to that event, he skipped the winning composite four at the Anzac tournament last year.
Included in Kernaghan's four are former Otago golf representative Brent McEwan and Dunedin sevens representative Andy McLean, who competed in the PBA world pairs in England in January.
The annual two-day event was first held in 1970 and it is the most prestigious event run annually by a club in Central Otago.
The event has always attracted the big names of South Island bowls. Ian Dickison, who won the World Bowls triples title in 1988, skipped the winning Kaikorai team in 1984.
Two years later, Dickison won the Commonwealth Games singles title in Edinburgh.
Other former New Zealand representatives who have won the event include Terry Scott (North East Valley) in 1991, Kevin Scott and his son, Shaun (Bannockburn), in 1993, and Ken Walker (Dunedin) in 2013.
New Zealand junior representative Sheldon Bagrie-Howley (Gore) skipped the winning team in 2015 and has returned this year. Wynston McLachlan (Clinton), who won the New Zealand pairs title in 1986, is his lead.
The event was the brainchild of Don Rutherford, who put the idea to the committee of the Alexandra Bowling Club in 1969.
He is the father of Tom Rutherford, who won the New Zealand champion of champions singles title in 1983.
Thirty-four teams competed in the first tournament in 1970. Interest quickly grew and 50 teams competed in 1973.
There will be 62 teams in this weekend's event, to be played on two greens at Alexandra and one each at RSA, Clyde and Omakau.
This includes two teams Wesley Hodges, a major sponsor of the tournament, is bringing from the Mooloolaba Bowling Club on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
Top Southland bowlers skipping teams include Roger Stevens, who was the singles player in the Southland intercentre sevens team.
Former Southland sevens representatives competing include John Flynn and Steve Sanders.
Dave Archer, who returned to the Dunedin sevens team after a decade this year, is skipping a Taieri team.
The tenacious Barry Bunting (Burnside, Christchurch) should not be underestimated. Another strong Christchurch team is skipped by Murray Butterfield (Beckenham).
Most of the Central Otago men's sevens team that played in the nationals at Wellington will be competing.
The headquarters green will be at Molyneux Park.
