THE Bathurst Blacktrackers will once more link up this weekend as they head to Raymond Terrace for the annual NSW Aboriginal Knockout.

The tournament will be staged by defending champions, the Newcastle Yowies, who are gunning for their third straight title.

Last year they won a dramatic decider over the Mindaribba Warriors, with NRL star Albert Kelly potting a field goal in extra-time to earn his side the win. The Yowies also defeated the same opposition a year earlier.

The Blacktrackers have been in existence for the last five editions of the tournament and are hoping that their sixth visit will provide a little extra success, with their best effort to date having been a spot in the last 16.

They will be one of 64 sides in the main draw for the men, while the under 15s and under 17s divisions will be in action as well as a women’s competition.

Bathurst Panthers player and former St Pat’s star Des Crawford will captain the Bathurst side, which includes a handful of other locals as well as Group 10 players from Orange and Mudgee.

They have been given plenty of assistance from a host of local sponsors and the next step is to turn their enthusiasm into on field success.

Crawford is naturally excited about the football itself but also the event, which has become a huge piece of the rugby league calendar each year and attracts thousands of people, both indigenous and non-indigenous.

“The knockout is one of the largest indigenous gatherings in Australia and it is a chance to not only get together with family, but to watch some exceptional football,” Crawford said.

“Many of the players are very skilled and the quality of all the games is high.

“Our goal is to make it to Monday when the finals are played, but it is important to just take it one game at a time.

“We have great depth in our team, with the 25 players having a pretty good balance youth and experience

“Many of us have been playing together at the tournament for the last five years and can read each other well, and we believe we will be hard to beat. We’re representing not only the Aboriginal community, but the whole Bathurst community.”

In addition to the skipper, the side will also include Katon and Jamie Crawford as well as Daniel and Kris Kennedy to fly the Bathurst flag.

There will also be a number of Bathurst players in action with other sides, including William Kennedy and Steve Lane who will both line up with a side entered from Walgett.