"That's designed for the top four unions and the best Heartland union," said WRFU rugby development officer Justin Lock.
Pool A will be top seeds Wellington with Poverty Bay and Wairarapa Bush, while Pool C is Taranaki, Hawkes Bay and East Coast.
Last year, Whanganui was able to take advantage of their eighth seeding in the two pool format, having brought a stronger team than 2014.
They narrowly defeated Horowhenua-Kapiti and Wairarapa Bush, so despite losing their last pool match to Wellington, they had already qualified for the semifinals and therefore punched the ticket to Rotorua.
"It's definitally got to make it a bit more fairer with the Heartland teams spread around a bit," said Whanganui coach Tom Wells.
"You won't know who you play in that third game till an hour before. It's a very even playing field."
Wells has named a reinforced team from the squad that played in New Plymouth two weeks ago.
Crucially, Heartland rugby's top tryscorer and Player of the Year nominee Te Rangatira Waitokia has overcome his knee injury to take his place in the lineup.
"It's good enough for him to break the line at training and make our guys look silly. He's a class player," Wells said.
Kameli Kuruyabaki also returns and Wells said he is injury free and has retained most of his conditioning from the Heartland season, while talented Collegiate player Cody Hemi is also available.
The rest of the team is the same as played in New Plymouth, with Dane Whale the captain.
"The boys looked very sharp at training last night," said Wells.
"The players we've got a more than capable."
"Anyone can beat anyone at Regionals."
The Whanganui Women's sevens team also has a very tough ask in their Central tournament in Levin, in their first attempt at qualifying for nationals.
Coached by WRFU development officer Leslie Mckenzie, Whanganui is in a six team competition split into two pools.
Top seeds Manawatu have Poverty Bay and Hawkes Bay in their pool, while Whanganui is with Wellington and Taranaki.
The four teams who make the semifinals will qualify for nationals.
Lock said it will be tough challenge against teams from the bigger professional unions, while Poverty Bay have invested heavily in their sevens programmes this year, even sending their teams to New Caledonia for invitational tournaments.
The Central Sevens will be broadcast on Sky TV.
The teams are
Whanganui Men
Dane Whale, Tremaine Gilbert, Jaye Flaws, Hamish Bennett, Timoci Seruwalu, Kameli Kuruyabaki, Te Tua Kemp, Sefo Bourke, Te Aomarama (Cody) Hemi, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Ben Whale, Tyler Rogers-Holden.
Coach: Tom Wells; Manager: Darrell Robinson.
Whanganui Women
Trassina Noble, Nicola Cross, Jasmine Tipoki, Zoe Whatarau, Morgan Whatarau, Taylah Barrett, Kororia Ririnui, Lavina Nauga-Grey, Terri Kingi, Shayden Tipu, Georgia Adams, Monique McFarlane.
Coach: Leslie Mckenzie; Manager: Shary Adams.
