After missing last year, the 25-year-old is back as number one seed and is hoping to take home the men's singles trophy after successes in 2014 and 2016.

But he said his preparation for the event had been hampered by injury. 

"I've been injured lately, I've had a tear in my hip so I've been limited with my workload," he said.

"I'm going in fairly fit but not 100 per cent."

Whittington said he still had his eyes on the prize despite his hip injury.

"I'm just here to enjoy myself and hopefully I can lift the trophy at the end," he said. 

"There's some good competition in the draw, it's not going to be easy but I'll see what I can do."

Whittington said he expected tough competition from last year's winner Matt Hicks as well as James Dougherty. 

He defeated Dougherty in the 2016 Labour Day final 6-3, 6-2. 

Meanwhile, Geelong resident Hicks is this year's second seed.

Whittington, from Williamstown, said he looked forward to visiting Warrnambool for the long weekend.

"I've got a bunch of friends coming from Williamstown so it will be a nice weekend away playing tennis," he said.

The right-hander has an ATP singles ranking of 510 and reached the second round of the Australian Open men's singles in 2017.

He also played mixed doubles with Aussie Jessica Moore at the Open this year and they were knocked out in the second round.

More than 750 players will take part in the Warrnambool tournament which runs from Saturday morning to Monday afternoon at Lake Pertobe.

Hawkesdale teenager and emerging star Eloise Swarbrick is the local hope in the women's singles.

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