The largely Orange-based side will be led by the likes of Orange City's Tom Nell, Scott Smith and Nick Smith along with Emus' Harry Cummins, Tom Green, Louis Carr and Jamil Khalfan, however they will be headlined by Eastern Suburbs' colts player-of-the-year and former Australian Schoolboy Donny Freeman too.

The Blobfish claimed the Plate by downing CSU Bathurst in last year's third-versus-fourth play-off, and with Newcastle Wanderers not back to defend the top title, Cummins said it looks to be there for the taking.

"For sure, we'd love to win the overall title, that's what everyone's there for," he said.

"Obviously we're just a bunch of mates coming together to play some rugby and have a good time but you still want to win and we've got a pretty handy side again this year, so I think we're every chance.

"There's a lot of other seriously good sides in the tournament though and the 10-a-side game can often come down to one or two moments of brilliance, so we'll have to see how we go, I'm sure it'll be really good to watch as it always is though."

The Blobfish have a tough ask first-up in the Illawarra Ibis in their tournament-opener on Saturday morning, and they're a side Red Dog Rugby Club president Mickey Palmer - the tournament coordinator - rates highly.

He also rated 2016 and 2017 champions Eastern Suburbs, also last year's beaten grand finalists, as a serious threat even without inspirational skipper Beau Jones.

"I think Illawarra Ibis men's will be a force to be reckoned with and will be dangerous," Palmer said, before throwing out some tongue-in-cheek barbs.

"Easts in years past have been very competitive, but this year I think they will be somewhat of a social team without their leader. Without the driving force of captain Beau, it would seem they are just making up the numbers."

He went on to say Red Dog are gunning to take the scalp of newly-crowned Blowes Clothing Cup premiers Bathurst Bulldogs, who have the home ground advantage at Anne Ashwood Park. He also highlighted one other Bathurst-based title threat in the men's tournament.

"The Beer and Ball Runners are a team from Bathurst who we've been told have sourced players from around the Central West and if I was a betting man, I'd put a cheeky pineapple on them to be in the final, if not take it out, because they are an unknown dark horse," he said.

"If there was ever a team from Red Dogs to take Bulldogs out, then it's this year. Bulldogs should open every kennel because the Red Dogs have got bleeding gums ready for revenge from three years of losses in finals.

"We have heavily recruited to correct this and we look forward to taking the plate, if not the cup for the first time ever. I'm excited to see what they bring to the tournament."

Palmer said the Bulldogs women's team - who took out the inaugural edition of the women's 10s competition last October - will have some very determined rivals as well.

"The Wollongong women's side have verbally instructed me that their sole intention is to smash the Bulldogs women," Palmer said.

"Watch out Bulldogs, just because it's your home ground doesn't mean it gives you any advantage. This is fast-paced, good fun exciting rugby."

Spectators are welcome to come and take in the action at Anne Ashwood Park from 11am.

There will also be a post-match function at the Panorama Hotel which will see a bottle of Penfolds Grange raffled off and auction of a framed and signed 2019 Waratahs jersey. The money raised will go to the Kids With Cancer Foundation.