It is the first time New Zealand teams have been invited to the tournament.
"We can register two teams and only 12 can play with two travelling players with the teams to cover for injuries - and the club has 11 players in those New Zealand teams - eight are Rotorua-based and the three others travel to play for our club," said McKinney.
"It's a good indication of the strength of the club. Most of those young men are either at school or have just started uni."
The Rotorua under-20 team's performance at last year's national championship highlighted the club's strength.
"We entered the men's nationals in September last year for the very first time. We were the only 20 and under team that entered the men's nationals and we went unbeaten through round-robin and ended up coming second in the under-23 section."
Among those beaten by the Rotorua team were the Australian under-23 and under-17 teams.
The annual tournament is one of only two competitive tournaments in which men can play - the other is the national mixed tournament.
The only other playing option for men who want to play netball in Rotorua is the local mixed competition hosted by the Rotovegas club in the Rotorua Girls' High School Arena each Monday and Wednesday that attracts about 32 teams.
"There are social and competitive grades," said McKinney.
Playing at under-20 level is a relatively new initiative, and an attempt to bridge a gulf in the playing options for males.
Once they are above intermediate school age, boys are no longer able to play in school or club teams, the next option being the under-23 age group.
Many of those playing in under-20 age group teams are still only 15 or 16.
"It's creating a pathway for them to slot into rather than the younger ones having to play 23 and under," said McKinney.
The New Zealand squad preparing for the Australian tour had three training camps last year, one this year and will have another in Rotorua just before they leave for Australia, as well as a camp in Levin in March.
For the players, the trip is self-funded, and among the ways they have been raising money was a pre-Christmas mixed netball tournament.
"Everything we got from that is going towards the trip," said McKinney.
"These players are either still at secondary school, university or doing some other form of tertiary study, so the financial burden falls back on their families."
McKinney said it was an honour to have been chosen to co-coach and manage the New Zealand squads.
