Athletes ranging from 12 to over 60 years of age will grace the notoriously challenging Southern circuit which takes on a variety of surfaces and inclines in distances ranging from three kilometres to 10.

Legana 17-year-old Sam Clifford is poised to be at his dangerous best as he looks to consolidate a strong winter season with a solid performance at the meet.

Despite still being eligible for junior competition, the Australian cross-country representative is giving the open 10,000-metre event his best shot as Nick Earl (UTAS), Phil McConnon (Northern Suburbs), Nathan Morey (OVA Southern Saints) and Ben Covington (Sandy Bay Harriers) look to make sure the promising athlete isn't alone at the front.

Sandy Bay Harrier Ruby Smee will look to add the women's under-20 6km event to her growing resume prior to her US departure.

The 18-year-old Southern athlete is set to leave Australian shores for the University of San Francisco in the next few months and will face stiff competition from Ebony Webb (Eastern Suburbs) and national race-walking champion Alice Randall (OVA Southern Saints).

The championships also carry extra importance for the athletes involved as they act as the selection trials for Tasmania's team to represent the state at the Australian cross-country championships in Woolongong during August.

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