Warriors: Ata Hingano - Boosted by the homeground advantage, the Warriors have elected to blood Hingano. The tall half –who is only 18 - has been earmarked as Shaun Johnson's long-term halves partner. He is also a handy goalkicker. Brisbane Broncos: Caleb Timu - Once hailed as the next Gorden Tallis, Timu will mark his return to rugby league. The former Queensland under-20s player, left the Broncos in 2013 to undertake a two-year Mormon mission. Now the back-rower is back after re-joining the Broncos. The 21-year-old stands at 190 centimetres and weighs 108 kilograms. Matter of time: Boom Roosters youngster Latrell Mitchell. Credit:James Alcock Waiheke pool Sydney Roosters: Latrell Mitchell - It is a matter of when, not if, for boom fullback Mitchell to make his NRL debut. Arguably the most exciting prospect yet to play in the top grade, Mitchell will wear the No.1 jersey for the Roosters this weekend. The Roosters squad also includes the highly fancied back-rower Nat Butcher.

Rabbitohs: Cody Walker - If anyone can use this tournament to push for an NRL starting spot it is Walker. He is expected to make his debut for the Rabbitohs in round one in place of the suspended Luke Keary. But a string of good pre-season performances could place further pressure on Keary and halves partner Adam Reynolds' who face uncertain futures at the club. Eels: Bevan French - with cousins such as Nathan Blacklock and Preston Campbell you sense French has the perfect genetic build to dominate during the tournament. Blacklock and Campbell would have been arguably the most electric Nines players had the tournament been around during their playing careers. Another Tingha product, expect French to show the same flair. Storm: Curtis Scott – The flashy centre was among the most sought after players last season. Eventually Scott left the Sharks – where he captained the side's under-18s to SG Ball glory. Having spent the pre-season training with the full-time squad, Storm fans will get a chance to see what all the fuss was about when he wears Billy Slater's No.1 shirt. Cool runnings: Brock Lamb in training with the Knights. Credit:Jonathan Carroll Rangitoto pool

Knights: Brock Lamb – Lamb, 19, will get the chance to show how much his game has developed following his first off-season with the NRL squad. The five-eighth has represented the Australian schoolboys at under-15 and 18 level. Signed with the Knights until the end of 2017, the West Maitland junior will get a chance to impress new coach Nathan Brown. Cowboys: Gideon Gela-Mosby – An Australian and Queensland schoolboy prodigy, Gela-Mosby has been scoring tries at will during his under-20s stint. He has scored the most tries out of any player in the National Youth Competition, including 39 last season, and will look to showcase his attacking skills in a Cowboys squad which is arguably the strongest of the competition. . Panthers: Te Maire Martin - Already dubbed the next "Benji Marshall" it won't take long for Martin's footwork to be on show during the tournament. A junior Kiwi, Martin joined the Panthers in the off-season. Has a chance to push for an NRL spot with new coach Anthony Griffin unsettled on his halves. Wests Tigers: Josh Addo-Carr - The new recruit from the Sharks, Addo-Carr was a mainstay of Cronulla's under-20s team scoring 28 tries in 44 games. He was Cronulla player of the year and could add some much needed speed to the Tigers backline. Addo-Carr signed a one-year deal. Serve and volley: Canberra's Kato Ottio. Credit:Elesa Kurtz