Bathurst has been grouped in pool B, alongside Parkes, Forbes and Cowra.

With pool A somewhat stacked, with defending champions Mudgee grouped alongside perennial finalists Duntryleague and this year’s darkhorse, Dubbo, Bathurst is a real contender to at least make it through to the semi-final stage of the tournament.

Wentworth and Wellington are also in pool A.

Bathurst professional Matt Barrett unveiled his club’s division one squad on Thursday, with Darryn Bruce leading a squad of eight throughout this year’s tournament, which kicks off on Sunday and culminates with the final on March 18.

Phil Campbell, Ben Cummings, Scott Matheson, Ben Mackey, Mick Locke, Matt Phillips and Julian Curran make up this year’s division one squad.

Only five will play each weekend.

“We’ve had a great response this year under the captaincy of Darryn Bruce, a great response,” Barrett said, Bathurst takes on Cowra in divisions one, three and four.

Parkes is Bathurst’s opponent in division two.

“We almost could have fielded two sides in division two,” Barrett added.

“We’re confident, absolutely… we’ll go close to a few wins.”

Also confident is Mudgee No.1 Mark Hale, who is predicting his side can claim a third straight division one pennant in 2018.

Mudgee eases into its second title defence in as many years with a round one bye on Sunday before hitting the road to face Wellington at Orange’s Wentworth Golf Club on February 11.

And, according to Hale, the pressure is off Mudgee, even without last year’s captain Matt Consadine.

“I think that break-though win (in 2016) was harder,” Hale said, comparing his side’s back-to-back pennant victories.

In 2016, Mudgee broke a 109-year drought with victory over Duntryleague in the final.

“Last year the monkey was off the back,” he added. “We get a bus every Sunday, we all enjoy it, the camaraderie among the group is great.

“There’s no reason we can’t go the three-peat.”

Although Mudgee’s four divisions all have the bye in round one, the Mudgee Golf Club is hosting pennants action on Sunday.

Pool A kicks off its opening round at Mudgee, with Wellington taking on Duntryleague and Wentworth playing Dubbo, a side Hale is predicting to be his team’s biggest challenge.

“It’s been Duntryleague for years, but over the last few years there’s definitely been a change of the guard,” Hale said.

“I think it’ll be us and Dubbo. It was really close in the final last year (Mudgee winning 3-2).”

In other games, Forbes takes on Parkes in pool B, while Wentworth takes on Dubbo and Wellington plays Duntryleague in pool A.