This is the first time Manning Hockey Association has hosted the event since 2012, when 60 teams were involved.

Matches will start from 11am on Friday with the last game expected to hit off from 2pm Sunday. Eight grass fields at Taree Recreation Centre along with Manning Hockey’s two synthetic turf fields will be in play for the championships, with all finals on turf. The only time there will be a break will be at 12.30 on Saturday when the opening ceremony will be conducted.

Grades will start from over 35s through to 55s.

Manning Hockey president Craig Colvin said the three days will be a massive boost for the local economy, with visiting sides expected to start arriving on Thursday night.

However, Manning and State officials will be keeping a close eye on the weather leading into Friday. Mr Colvin recalled the 2012 championships were marred by rain, with no play possible on ^{the grass fields.}

“We had to play all the matches on our two turf fields,’’ he said.

This meant games were restricted to a straight 15 minutes. The shortened games resulted in a number of draws, with penalty shoot outs required to determine finalists in a some of the grades. Manning was a finalist in the over 35s division.

Mr Colvin said it’s unlikely there’ll be a repeat this weekend, pointing out that 2012 was a wet year.

“But we don’t want any rain this week,’’ he added.

“The (grass) fields were marked last week. They’re a bit soft, but otherwise in good condition.’’

Meanwhile Mr Colvin hopes to hear within a month when work might start of the association’s third synthetic surface field along with extensions to the clubhouse.

Dollar-for-dollar funding was announced by Minister for Regional Development Senator Fiona Nash and Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie before the federal election.

Mr Colvin said at the time the project is ‘shovel ready’ and he was hoping there would be a start as soon as possible after the election.

“We’re waiting for things to settle down a bit, but hopefully we’ll hear something in a month,’’ he said.

The third turf will will complement the Allan Taylor Field opened in 1988 and the Terry Launders Field that has been in play since 2000.  It will be designed to be also used for football, with Football Mid North Coast keen to utilise it in wet weather.

Extensions to the clubhouse will also benefit the Manning Cycle Club which will establish a base there.