Smits said that after a successful Adam Blair Trophy, Northland's secondary school league competition, earlier this year, most of the players involved had gone on to play club league with many of them taking part in the trial.
However, Smits added that a handful of Adam Blair XIII players, disappointingly, had not progressed on to club level.
"I think the challenge for us [to keep a high conversion rate from the Adam Blair Trophy to club level] is to provide a credible club competition, which we do have this year ... and we need to be rewarding the boys who're playing club level [by providing a pathway to representative league]."
For the players this weekend it's not a case of performing on one day, as there are several trainings set to unfold each week between now and August when the team will be named.
Under-15 trialists: Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, Patrick Broughton, Keedon Bruce, Brodie Burndred, Tyrus Campbell, Sione Finau, Wiremu Greig, Keanye Heta, Te Ra Tutonu (Boss) Hiku-Joyce, Tan Hohepa, Joseph Johnstone, Steele Kake, Jayd Kapa, Saia Lopeti, Nabil Lotoahea, Javan Mamea, Kayleb Mathews, Markel McQueen-Stevens, Bobby Murray-Waititi, Hohua Mutu, Hori Nathan, Tamati Neho, Nathan Newton, Arvae Pitman, Hamana Rakena, Jack Rangitaawa, Tahi Subritzky, Tahupotiki Tawhiwhirangi, Rihari Thomas, Diani Timms, Xavier Toia, Lee Turner, Paul Turner, James Witehira, Orlando Woodcock.
Under-17 trialists: Caleb Aekins, Sione Aloua, Phardray Brown, Jesse Chapman, Gregory Covacich-Baanders, Piri Croft, Demrys Croft-Haenga, Zabdiel Edmonds, James-Dean Fisher-Harris, Daniel Fulop, Tumoana Halkyard, Kauri Harema, Kalani Heta, Wayne Iripa, Michael Larkin, Tonto Martin, Pana Matiu, Freddy Matthews, Gabe McBirney, Arthur McKechnie, Hamish Pomare, Kane Pomare, Jack Rangitaawa, Wiremu Rapira, Sonny Rihari-Rupapera, Kapene Ripikoi, Haane Rudolph, Nathan Saul, Corey Selwyn, Peter Smith, Thomas Smith, Manaaki Tawhiwhirangi, Jordayne Tibbits-Filimoeatu, Haimona Tierney, Chaz Wetere.
