The Mallee Men will be searching for their first West Wyalong Knockout win in 23 years when they host the 46th edition of the event this weekend.
That victory came against Narrandera 6-2 in 1994 while West Wyalong most recently made the decider in 2010 and 2012 only to be pipped at the post.
Coach Sam Basham said the lengthy time between drinks was driving his troops in 2017.
“Yeah, it definitely does,” he said.
“Being a local thing, you always look forward to it every year and we always get a good crowd there so that always adds a bit of incentive.
“It’s been so long, it [win the knockout] would be a massive thing to do.
“There is going to be a lot of very good teams there, so if you're right up there, it shows you have a pretty good team as well.”
The Mallee Men are set to field a close to full strength side at the tournament.
Tim Dore will be a key out for the knockout while a couple of the squad’s younger players will be away for the weekend.
“I think we’re only missing a couple blokes, apart from that, everything’s been going well,” Basham said of the side’s preparation.
West Wyalong has drawn Young Cherrypickers in the first round at 9pm with proceedings to start at 7pm on Friday when Tullibgeal-Lakes United Sharks take on Wagga Brothers.
The Saturday starts with league tag at 11am with the plate and cup finals to be played at 3.30pm and 4pm while the rugby league final will start at 9.30pm.
DRAW
Friday, February 24
Rugby league
- 7pm: Tullibgeal-Lakes United Sharks v Wagga Brothers
- 7.40pm: Forbes Magpies v Southcity Bulls
- 8.20pm: Leeton Greens v Gundagai Tigers
- 9pm: West Wyalong Mallee Men v Young Cherrypickers
- 9.40pm: Wagga Kangaroos v Woden Valley Rams
- 10.20pm: Orange CYMS v Temora Dragons
- 11pm: Bathurst Panthers v Albury Thunder
- Bye: Yenda
Saturday, February 25
League tag
- 11am: Forbes v Young
- 11am: Wagga Roos v Leeton
- 11.30am: West Wyalong v Cootamundra
- 11.30am: Young v Yenda
- 12pm: Leeton v Gundagai
- 12pm: Cootamundra v Cobar
- 12.30pm: Yenda v Forbes
- 12.30pm: Gundagai v Wagga Roos
- 1pm: West Wyalong v Cobar
- 1.30pm: Fifth ranked team v sixth ranked team
- 2pm: Pool one winner v pool two winner
- 2.30pm: Seventh ranked team v eighth ranked team
- 3pm: Pool three winner v fourth ranked team
- 3.30pm: Plate final; winner game 10 v winner game 12
- 4pm: Cup final; winner game 11 v winner game 13
Cup winner takes home $1500 with the runner up winning $500.
Plate winner takes home $300 with the runner up winning $100.
Best player in both finals takes home $50.
Rugby league
- Quarter-final one: 5pm; Wagga Roos/Woden v Leeton/Gundagai
- Quarter-final two: 5.40pm; Bathurst/Albury v Yenda
- Quarter-final three: 6.20pm; West Wyalong/Young v Forbes/Southcity
- Quarter-final four: 7pm; Orange/Temora v TLU/Brothers
- Semi-final one; 7.40pm; quarter final one winner v quarter final two winner
- Semi final two; 8.20pm; quarter final three winner v quarter final four winner
- Final; 9.30pm; semi final one winner v semi final two winner
Winner takes home $10,000 with the runner up winning $2500.
Semi-final losers take home $500 and quarter final losers take home $300.
