EIGHT Manning cricketers will have the opportunity to gain selection in the Macquarie Coast Stingers side to play in the opening round of a State-wide regional T20 competition known as the Plan B Regional Bash.

The side will be chosen from Mid North Coast Council's member association Manning, Hastings and Macleay and all will send eight players to trials to be held at Wauchope on Saturday September 12. From there the team will be named.

Mid North Coast Cricket Council secretary Craig Lobegeier said a squad of 15 will be chosen to represent the Stingers in the opening round against Northern Inland at Tamworth on Sunday October 18.

"Four of the 15 must be under 21 and two of those players must get a game,'' Mr Lobegeier explained.

Teams are also allowed three imported players. They will be products of the Mid North Coast now playing in Sydney or in stronger competitions throughout the State.

Mr Lobegeier said unfortunately Taree's Nick Larkin, a Sheffield Shield representative last season, will not be released by Cricket NSW. However, he pointed out there's a number of players from throughout the area are playing in Sydney, including Manning's Dave Miller and Larkin's younger brother, James who are with Sydney University and Nick Walker, now at University of NSW.

"Chris White from Kempsey is playing with Parramatta. There are several others from here down there,'' he said.

Mr Lobegeier said a number of leading Manning cricketers would be in line for selection, including Old Bar's Ben Cole and Dave Rees along with Ricky Campbell from United.

Mr Lobegeier, Manning Cricket's Merv Emerton and MNC Council president Bob Hogan will be the selectors. Troy McKiernan from Kempsey will be the coach.

A total of 16 new franchises throughout regional NSW will play in the competition with matches starting on Sunday October 11 and culminating in the finals gala day at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday December 6.

Sponsored by Cricket NSW's major backer, Transport for NSW, the Plan B Regional Bash will field eight Sydney Sixers Conference franchises and eight Sydney Thunder Conference franchises creating a direct pathway for identification of regional cricketers into the Cricket NSW BBL franchises.

The eight Sixers Conference teams are the Central Coast Rush, Coffs Coast Chargers, Hunter Hitmen, Illawarra Flames, Macquarie Coast Stingers, Newcastle Blasters, Northern Inland Bolters and Northern Rivers Rock.

The eight Thunder Conference franchises are the ACT Aces, Border Bullets, Central West Wranglers, Murrumbidgee Rangers, Orana Outlaws, South Coast Crew, Southern Riverina Vipers and Wagga Wagga Sloggers.

Both conferences will also have a conference ambassador to help coach teams, engage with the regional areas and promote T20 cricket in general. Former test quick Len Pascoe is the ambassador for the Stingers.