The Apple Isle has sent four teams — under-16 and 18 boys and girls — to the Border to take on NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New Zealand.

Tasmanian Institute of Sport head basketball coach Justin Schueller said yesterday the state was looking forward to testing itself against some of the premier youngsters in the country.

“I have been in my position for 18 months and one of the things I really wanted to do was give our players more exposure to high standard competitions,” Schueller said.

“This gives us the competition we are looking for.

“I have spoken to Bert Bargeus (cup director) about it as well and one of the things we know is that it’s a really well-run tournament and a great standard.

“We’re looking forward to the week ahead.”

Tasmania had its first practice session at the Albury Sports Stadium on Thursday afternoon and has been buoyed by a recent tour of the US where it won 19 of 25 matches.

Schueller said the 25-day tour was a valuable learning experience.

“We took 24 players and achieved some good results in the boys and girls,” he said.

“Some of those players are playing in Albury.”

Although Schueller was reluctant to rate Tasmania’s chances of winning a title next week, he believes a top-five result isn’t out of the question in the under-18s divisions.

NSW and Victoria have been the pacesetters in recent years and are again expected to feature prominently in the finals with cup director Paul Gooding expecting another successful championship.

“It’s great to have another state involved,” Gooding said.

“We have 60 teams listed to play including four from Tasmania for the first time and it’s shaping up well.”

Six hundred players, 120 coaches and managers, 65 referees and 24 referee managers/educators and six sports trainers from Bendigo will also be taking part.

Seven administrators will run the tournament.

A breakfast for a large group of New Zealand supporters will be held at Albury’s Botanic Gardens on Monday from 8am.

It will be hosted by Mayor Alice Glachan.

Action will start on Monday.