In a boost for the Sharks it is likely that Taree products and Sydney Roosters under 20s players Latrell and Shaq Mitchell will play for the knockout side.

"It's good to have a player of Latrell's calibre and experience," Sharks manager Ralph Saunders said.

"Shaq's a dynamo player too."

Latrell is a utility back while Shaq will play prop.

Ralph emphasised that the two players would headline a 25-man squad full of local talent including Trae Clark, Dylan Towers, Jayden Baker and Jardin Morcombe.

He said the side, which will once again be coached by Shane Glass, will look to build on their results from last year, where they were knocked out in the first game.

The competition is a genuine knockout.

"Every game is a grand final, there's a lot of pressure," Ralph said.

He said the team this year was young but not inexperienced.

"I think we've only got two debutantes. Everyone else has got a couple of knockouts under their belts," Ralph said.

The team has been training for several weeks but work commitments made it difficult to get all members of the squad together.

Ralph is positive that they'll be able to have a full team training session ahead of the knockout.

He said the team's goal is to produce an effort they can be proud of.

"We want to say thank you to all the sponsors, we go away with a lot of pride," he said.

"We just hope to do better every year."