Bowls: Edwards and Sims head NZ challenge

World and Commonwealth champions Jo Edwards and Sharon Sims will head the New Zealand challenge at the inaugural event starting in Melbourne on Tuesday.

They will be joined in Melbourne by Karen Coombe and experienced internationals Gary Lawson and Rowan Brassey.

The New Zealanders received wildcard entries into the main draw at the tournament, the richest in Australia with a total prize pool of $68,000 across singles, pairs and triples.

Edwards' invitation earns her a place in the main singles draw of 64.

Sims and Coombe will combine for the women's pairs event and they will also partner Edwards in a triple, while Lawson and Brassey will contest the men's pairs.

National coach Stewart Buttar believes the tournament is another chance for the leading players to compete under the new sets format to be used at next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

"Our top players need as much exposure to competitive play against international opponents as possible if we are to be successful in 2006," Buttar said.

"The difference between the traditional bowls format and sets play is huge, so it is important that we give our players these opportunities."

Current and former internationals from all the leading bowls nations will be competing in Melbourne.

Matches will be two sets of nine ends, with a three-end tiebreak if necessary.