Wairarapa could be the surprise packets at the Jacobs Creek inter-provincial tennis tournament being held at the Masterton Tennis Centre this weekend.
If seedings run to true to form they will finish fourth, behind Wellington, Hutt Valley, and Manawatu and ahead of Kapi Mana.
But so enthused is he by the potential
in his side Wairarapa selector Steve Hurley believes they could finish third and possibly even as high as second.
"My expectation is to improve our seeding and it'll be disappointing if that doesn't happen," Hurley said..
Wairarapa will be a handful for any of their opposition in the men's section in particular.
There they will be headed by two players who have been in outstanding form in the Wellington inter-club competition, Jono Hurley and Marcus Daniell.
And supporting them will be Matt Spooner, Geoff McKay, Mike Jackson, Chris Wilkie, Baden Stevenson, Marco de Groot and Steve Hurley himself, all of whom have done well at representative level in the past.
The women's section of the Wairarapa side has a mix of youth and experience.Included there are Katie Wyeth, Charlotte Gibson, Clemmie Barton, Emma Stevenson, Natasha Robinson, Leanne Sweeney, Cilla Paulik, Barbara Hollings and Lynn Murrell.
Naming as many as 18 players for matches which will consist of eight singles, two doubles and two combined doubles matches may seem somewhat extravagant but Steve Hurley is well aware of the demanding schedule and of the need to rest players from time to time.
"It's a tough ask mentally and physically and the fresher you can keep the players the better," he said.
Wellinton will start firm favourites for the title. They have named a powerful side headed by Bernie Parun, who is a regular on the ATP professional circuit.
The tournament draw is:-
Tonight.-5.30pm: Hutt Valley v Wairarapa (singles) and Wellington and Kapi Mana (singles).
Saturday.-8.30am: Hutt Valley v Wairarapa (doubles), Wellington v Kapi Mana (doubles). 10.30am: Wairarapa v Wellington, Manawatu v Kapi Mana. 3pm: Wairarapa v Kapi Mana, Hutt Valley v Manawatu.
Sunday.-9am: Wellington v Manawatu, Hutt Valley v Kapi Mana.2pm: Wairarapa v Manawatu, Wellington v Hutt Valley.
