This weekend will see 15 teams descend on Hay for the opening tournament with eight men's teams and seven women's teams electing to take part with the Blacks putting teams in for both competitions.

Coach of the Blacks first-grade men's side Chris McGregor has been impressed by the attitude of his squad heading into this weekend.

"We have been getting 30-40 to training each week," he said.

"The hard part was that we can only pick 14 players.

"There has been some blokes who have put a lot of effort in over the last four weeks since we have been training, which is really good to see this early.

"I'm pretty sure we will go pretty well out here, but the main thing is for the boys to have some fun as well."

For a lot of his players, it will be the first rugby they would have played this season after the Blacks didn't enter a side in the SIRU competition.

"Most of the boys didn't get to play this season, there were a couple that went to Leeton, but the majority of them haven't had a game of footy this year," he said.

"They can't wait to get back out there."

McGregor is hopeful with the ability of the squad that has been selected they will have what it takes to finish in the top four.

"It is a reasonably experienced side," he said.

"There is a good mix between youth and experience, and there is also a fair bit of speed out there as well as a couple of the bigger boys.

"I'm pretty sure with who were are going to field it (reaching the top four) shouldn't be an issue.

"I think the fact that we have some big mobile blokes and we have a fair bit of speed will help us. We have some natural ability where things can be created out of nothing."

The Blacks women's side feature in a pool alongside Hay and Tumut, with their first game coming against the Cutters at 11am.

The men's side is in a group with Albury, Hay and CSU Reddies and will begin their campaign against the Steamers at 11.20am.

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