Twenty-two of a possible 50 entries will be members of the Warrnambool club. The other 28 entries will come from a combination of clubs in Portland, Hamilton, Ballarat and over the border from South Australian towns, Millicent and Naracoorte.

Club president Shaun Stapleton and player Tom Kelson are two Warrnambool chances of claiming victory in the men’s top division, while last year’s women’s division two runner-up Sharna Westley is a chance to go one better.

Kelson said it would be difficult to split the chances in the men’s division one tournament, played over a best of five set format.

“You could throw a blanket across either of us and we could all win,” Kelson told The Standard. 

“The strongest competition would be coming from Ballarat and a couple of young fellas from Naracoorte, who are constantly improving every year will definitely be trying their best to get a win.”

Kelson said having the tournament at the club’s home court meant more players from Warrnambool had entered, but it wouldn’t be an advantage. 

“We will have more entries being at home and not having to travel,” he said. “As for a home court advantage all the courts have four walls but they are all different and play different ways.”