IT’S the pre-season tournament to whet the appetite of every rugby league nut either side of the Tasman.

The Auckland Nines returns this week as fans get the first glimpse of their NRL club’s 2016 talent.

So who’s playing who? And what are the rules of the nine-a-side game?

Fear not; we’ve done the research for you!

Watch all the action from the Nines live and exclusive on Fox Sports 1HD, with expert analysis from Matt Shirvington, Nathan Hindmarsh, Michael Ennis, Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans across the entire weekend.

When: February 6-7

Where: Eden Park, Auckland

TV: Fox Sports

The tournament will run over two days on Saturday February 6 and Sunday February 7 at Eden Park in Auckland.

Each nine-a-side game is played over two nine-minute halves, with clubs naming a squad of 18 for the tournament. A whopping $2.4 million in prize money is up for grabs in 2016.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will line-up for the Warriors at the Nines. Source: News Corp Australia

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Ben Hunt won’t be playing the Nines. Source: News Corp Australia

POOLS

Hunua: Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Warriors, Broncos

Waiheke: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Eels, Storm

Rangitoto: Knights, Cowboys, Panthers, Wests Tigers

Piha: Dragons, Raiders, Sharks, Titans

TEAM-BY-TEAM BREAKDOWN (ALL TIMES ARE AEDT)

Broncos: (day 1) Sea Eagles 12.45pm, Bulldogs 4.40pm; (day 2) Warriors 10.40am.

Raiders: (day 1) Dragons 1.10pm, Titans 5.30pm; (day 2) Sharks 11.30am.

Bulldogs: (day 1) Warriors 12.20am, Broncos 4.40pm; (day 2) Sea Eagles 10.15am.

Sharks: (day 1) Titans 1.35pm, Dragons 5.05pm; (day 2) Raiders 11.30am.

Titans: (day 1) Sharks 1.35pm, Raiders 5.30pm; (day 2) Dragons 11.05am.

Sea Eagles: (day 1) Broncos 12.45pm, Warriors 4.15pm; (day 2) Bulldogs 10.15am.

Storm: (day 1) Eels 10.55am, Rabbitohs 2.50pm; (day 2) Roosters 8.35am.

Knights: (day 1) Cowboys 11.20am, Panthers 3.15pm; (day 2) Tigers 9.25am.

Cowboys: (day 1) Knights 11.20am, Tigers 3.40pm; (day 2) Panthers 9.50am.

Eels: (day 1) Storm 10.55am, Roosters 2.25pm; (day 2) Rabbitohs 9am.

Panthers: (day 1) Tigers 11.45am, Knights 3.15pm; (day 2) Cowboys 9.50am.

Rabbitohs: (day 1) Roosters 10.30am, Storm 2.50pm; (day 2) Eels 9am.

Dragons: (day 1) Raiders 1.10pm, Sharks 5.05pm; (day 2) Titans 11.05am.

Roosters: (day 1) Rabbitohs 10.30am, Eels 2.25pm; (day 2) Storm 8.35am.

Warriors: (day 1) Bulldogs 12.20pm, Sea Eagles 4.15pm; (day 2) Broncos 10.40am.

Tigers: (day 1) Panthers 11.45am, Cowboys 3.40pm; (day 2) Knights 9.25am.

THE RULES

For all the law-abiders out there, take encouragement in how well the modified rules of the Nines make it such an exciting concept. That’s right, the rules make it fun.

There is the obvious laws of the game and the basics are similar.

Each game consists of two nine-minute halves and each team will have nine players on the field out of a team of 14, leaving a bench of five. The interchange is unlimited, but only two players can be interchanged at a time.

But let’s get into the nitty gritty of all the differences to look out for, so you don’t yell “come on!” at the TV/referee for no good reason.

Free play

A team that gains possession from a mistake (knock on, forward pass, accidental offside) will get one free play to attempt a high-risk move. If the team makes a mistake during their free play, they retain possession at the point of the original infringement.

The advantage is only complete if the team scores, a player commits foul play or the player with the ball is tackled. If the non-offending team is still in possession at the next play-the-ball, the referee will signal “zero tackle”.

Club representatives show off their 2016 Nines jumpers. Source: News Corp Australia

Scrums

A maximum of five players from each team will form a scrum, but no more than four players acting as backs.

Scrums will only be used after a double knock on or mutual infringement. Everything else will cause a handover — including kicks that find touch in general play, which will take place 10 metres in from where the ball crossed the line.

A 40/20 kick will result in a tap restart for the kicking team 20 metres in from the touch line.

Points

A try is four points as usual, except for those scored in the ‘Bonus Zone’ behind the goalposts, which is five points.

Conversion will be taken by way of dropkick in line with where the try was scored and will count for two points. Penalty kicks will also be dropkicks from where the penalty was awarded and will also be worth two points.

Jack Bird of the Sharks beats the tackle of James Maloney during last year’s tournament. Source: Getty Images

Conversion shot clock

Immediately after a try is awarded the shot clock will start, with 25 seconds to kick the conversion. The time is complete once the kicker’s boot strikes the ball.

If the kicker doesn’t complete the conversion within 25 seconds, no points will be awarded.

In the case of a possible eight-point try, the shot clock will restart only when the referee has

moved into position and has blown the whistle to award the penalty in front of the goalposts.

Restarts

Restarts will be a dropkick and are required to travel at least 10 metres forward, and will be taken by the scoring team.

Kick offs to start the halves will be a place kick.

Where the defending team recommences play with a goal line or 20 metre drop out, they must do so within 20 seconds which will commence once the referee has ruled either way.

The time will be displayed on the shot clock.

If the kick is not taken before time runs out on the shot clock, a penalty will be awarded either on the centre of the 10 metre line (goal line drop out) or the 20 metre line (20 metre drop out).

Sin bin

The period of suspension is three minutes.

South Sydney won the 2015 Nines title. Source: News Corp Australia

Tackle count

Four successive play the balls and turnover on the fifth.

Extra time — golden try

If the scores are level at the end of the game, they will play “extra time — golden try”, ie the first to score a try wins.

Teams will swap ends and the team that kicked off in the first half will kick off again.

In the qualifying round the extra time will not exceed five minutes, and if no try is scored it will be deemed a draw.

For all finals games the play will continue until a try is scored.

Goals shall have no value during the golden try period.

Competition points

Win: 2 points

Draw: 1 point

Loss: 0 points

The Jillaroos will also play three games against the Kiwi Ferns during the two-day tournament — one game on the first day and two during the finals on the second day.

Jillaroos coach Steve Folkes has already named his line up for the Nines, selecting three debutants Allana Ferguson (NSW), Corban McGregor (NSW) and Kody House (QLD) in his 16-woman squad.

Jillaroos: 1 Allana Ferguson, 2 Annette Brander, 3 Brittany Breayley, 4 Casey Karklis, 5 Chelsea Baker, 6 Corban McGregor, 7 Jenni-Sue Hoepper, 8 Karina Brown, 9 Kezie Apps, 10 Kody House, 11 Maddie Studdon, 12 Renae Kunst, 13 Ruan Sims, 14 Sam Hammond, 15 Steph Hancock, 16 Vanessa Foliaki.

Coach: Steve Folks