The four-day event starts today and will be contested by 12 sides from around NSW and the ACT.

Orange boasts five players in the 13-man Mitchell squad including Lachlan Coyte, Hugh Middleton, Tommy Pearce, Caleb Smith and Blake Weymouth.

There are also players from Mudgee, Bathurst and Lithgow.

Orange’s Frank Weymouth and Mudgee’s Peter Endacott are coaching the young players and are looking forward to seeing them perform.

Endacott believes the Mitchell squad has the potential to challenge their rivals.

“The nucleus of the side is the under 12s Mitchell team from last season. That side went through last season undefeated. They beat Macquarie and Lachlan,” Endacott explained.

“I think they’ll be competitive at the under 13 level. We’ve got a pretty good line-up.”

Weymouth said the players would enjoy the challenge of taking on different sides.

A real test for them could be the amount of cricket they’ll have to play in the carnival.

“We had to go with 13 players because it’s four days of 50-over cricket. They’ve played 50-over matches before, but four days in a row will be interesting,” Weymouth said.

“I think the boys will be competitive.”

Mitchell takes on the ACT 12s today at Riawena, followed by Shoalhaven at Glenroi Oval tomorrow and Wagga at Jack Brabham 3 on Wednesday before the play-offs on Thursday.

Other teams contesting the carnival are Central Coast, ACT 13s, Penrith, South Coast, Parramatta, North Shore, Illawarra and Dubbo.

Today’s games start at 10.30am.

Two teams will be selected from the 12 sides to play a Twenty20 match at 6.30pm tomorrow at Wade Park.