Every Nines game live on Fox League, coverage starts at 6.30pm AEDT

Every NRL club has named their Nines squad for the return of the shortened format in Perth.

While some clubs have named retired veterans and, in the Roosters’ case called in someone who has never played the code, there’s plenty of talent on show.

But who are the rising stars ready to breakthrough to first grade or leave a lasting impression on their coaches?

Here foxsports.com.au looks at nine to watch for the Nines.

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CORY PAIX (BRONCOS)

It’s a good time to be a young hooker at the Broncos.

Andrew McCullough and Jake Turpin are the only players standing in the way of Paix making the step up to first grade.

The thing 20-year-old Paix has against them?

Speed. Absolutely bucketloads of the stuff.

He’s so fast in fact, that Anthony Seibold has likened him to Damien Cook (whisper it quietly but he might have even been a beach sprinter), a player he worked with at South Sydney.

Paix hasn’t looked out of place at the top level, either. The Queensland junior representative played Q Cup for the majority of last season and didn’t look out of place.

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HAMISO TABUAI-FIDOW (COWBOYS)

He is only on the Cowboys’ development list, but don’t rule out Tabuai-Fidow making a splash at the Nines, and maybe later in the season.

Primarily a fullback Tabuai-Fidow is of Samoan-Torres Strait background and hails from Cairns.

Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow during Cowboys training Source: News Corp Australia

Picked in the Australian Schoolboys side, Tabuai-Fidow wasn’t just an accomplished league player, starring for Brisbane Grammar School rugby union side, while also having a chance to join AFL side the Gold Coast Suns.

Thankfully for the Cowboys, he opted for the 13-man game and has been mentored by Matty Bowen.

Quicker than a greyhound out of a trap – he clocked 100m at 11.04 sec despite having no sprint training.

Sterlo's Super League cameo 4:04

ZAC SADDLER (SEA EAGLES)

Saddler is a big forward.

And when I say big, I mean big.

The 20-year-old country kid, who stands at 200cm, came through at the Bulldogs before an ACL injury looked to have kiboshed his chances of making the top grade.

He picked up a few other minor niggles and bumps along the way, before heading to Manly on a development deal.

Zac Saddler in action for the Bulldogs Source: Supplied

Des Hasler, and his recruitment sidekick Noel ‘Crusher’ Cleal, signed Saddler to the Dogs and clearly liked what they saw as they lured him north of the Spit.

With size on his side, and given Manly’s rotten luck with injuries in the pack in recent times, the Nines could put Saddler in a good position to make a claim for the first team going forward.

KINGS OF THE GYM 💪💪



NRL players reveal the strongest men at every club... and there's plenty of surprises!



Read: https://t.co/4dnWVvni5v pic.twitter.com/jg6PIsqas9 — FOX LEAGUE (@FOXNRL) February 10, 2020

RHYS DAVIES (EELS)

Not many players are still waiting for their debuts by the time they hit their mid-twenties.

But then Davies’ rise to this stage hasn’t been particularly straightforward.

In fact he’s gone the long way round to get to this point.

His career began with St George Illawarra, then Cronulla, before time at Wentworthville, Mounties and North Sydney in the NSW Cup.

Rhys Davies and Daniel Alvaro during Parramatta training Source: News Corp Australia

Now, he’s earned a top 30 contract with the Eels after the versatile playmaker, who can cover the halves or at hooker, turned heads at pre-season training.

In one pre-season test he went toe-to-toe with captain Clint Gutherson, beating him in a speed race.

If he can do some of that with the ball in hand at the Nines in Perth, then that one-year deal might turn into a longer-term one.

Smith bowled first pill 0:40

JUDDA TURAHUI (STORM)

A graduate of prestigious rugby union school in Auckland’s Kings College, Turahui is a big rangy body who can play anywhere on the edge.

Turahui hails from Taranaki and hasn’t played much league. Just union, union, union, spending his time mostly at No. 8.

Judda Turahui during a Storm training session Source: Supplied

He’s one the Storm have kept their eyes on for a while, inviting him to various camps over the years.

The feedback from Melbourne has been good, with the club liking his resilience and work ethic.

With a shortage of centres this year, a good showing at the Nines could put the young Kiwi in the boxseat to play at some point later this season.

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EDENE GEBBIE (RABBITOHS)

Gebbie is up against it to make inroads in the Bunnies backline this season.

The Rabbitohs are stacked with talent, and the former Wynnum Manly fullback is only on a development deal.

Edene Gebbieon the run for the Wynumm Manly Seagulls at Jack Manski Oval Source: News Corp Australia

Gebbie was part of the side which finished as runners up in the Queensland Cup last year after coming through the PNG Hunters system.

Last season he topped the stat charts for runs, run metres and tackle busts, scoring 19 tries in 22 games, and with a good showing at the Nines could work his way into Wayne Bennett’s thinking.

JAYDEN SULLIVAN (DRAGONS)

There’s plenty to like about Sullivan.

He’s easy on the eye, slight, balanced and he bounces off each foot like a kangaroo.

He’s the kind of player that will make you get out of your seat, peel your eyelids back and watch on.

Highlight reels show one thing – sure, anybody can cut up footage and make themselves look good – but Sullivan also has the credentials on the board.

Jayden Sullivan passes during the Under-18 Origin game Source: News Corp Australia

He captained the Steelers in the SG Ball premiership win and played Under-18 Origin for NSW.

Signed with the Dragons for the next few years, if Corey Norman or Ben Hunt were to go down later this year, Sullivan might get his breakthrough. With or without a good display at the Nines, Sullivan is one to watch for the future.

HARLEY SMITH-SHIELDS (RAIDERS)

Canberra folk reckon that Smith-Shields is the one to watch this season, especially given the uncertainty surrounding Curtis Scott.

With Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana heading on at the end of last year, Smith-Shields has a chance to impress Ricky Stuart this weekend and stake a claim for a backline spot.

Canberra youngster Harley Smith-Shields training for the Raiders. Source: Supplied

The youngster scored six tries in seven NSW Cup games for Mounties last year.

The Green Machine have had great success blooding younger players over the last few years, with Bailey Simonsson and Corey Horsburgh hitting the ground running for the Raiders.

If Smith-Shields can do the same at the Nines, he could make himself a permanent fixture of Stuart’s team

BILLY MAGOULIAS (SHARKS)

Not many players help to set up back to back last-minute, matchwinning tries in consecutive cup finals.

That was the story for Billy Magoulias last year as helped guide the Sharks’ feeder club, the Newtown Jets, to NSW and Interstate Cup victories.

Magoulias’ feats didn’t stop there, either, as he jetted off to help Greece qualify for their first-ever World Cup.

Billy Magoulias is tackled playing for the Jets last year Source: AAP

He’s a bit of a throwback. Short, stocky and powerful and got a taste of first grade last year.

Usually a lock, with Paul Gallen’s retirement a good showing at the Nines could catapult the Mascot junior into the big time on a permanent basis.