March 13-14 has been locked in as the dates for this year's edition of the annual Group 10 pre-season tournament, with Mudgee Dragons coming in as defending premiers.

And to give entering teams another incentive to win, there's substantial money on offer for competing clubs.

Bathurst Panthers president Dennis Comerford said while its compulsory for premier league teams to compete, all reserve teams and all eight Mid West Cup teams have been invited too.

"The sooner I get nominations in the better, to give us a bit more time to sort out the draw," he said.

"I have sent out information to the president of the [Mid West Cup] to distribute out to the clubs, but I haven't heard anything back from them yet.

"We do know that all first grade teams in Group 10 will be there. It's a compulsory competition for all first grade but it's only voluntary for reserve grade.

"At the moment, I've got three clubs for reserve grade and I'm just waiting on the others."

Games will kick-off around 5.30pm on the Friday afternoon, with the final expected to be played on Saturday afternoon, with all games played over a shorter time period.

In the premier league (first grade) competition, $3000 is on offer for the winner, while there's $1000 up for grabs for the runner-up.

In the first division (reserve grade) competition, $1000 will be awarded to the winner, while the runners-up will receive $500.

In previous years Group 10 had nine teams, but now that Oberon Tigers have been relegated to the Mid West Cup, only eight teams will contest the premier league knockout.

And because of the change in teams, the premier league knockout will not require a play-off match ahead of the quarter finals.

"It does make it easier to sort the draw out [with eight teams], but it's not really a big issue doing the draw," Comerford said.

"A draw's a draw. We basically had to set it up that there was a first grade game on its own, to knock one team out, so we can move to the straight knockout.

"It wasn't that big of problem, but the eight teams makes it a little bit easier."

Bathurst Panthers, St Pat's, Orange Hawks, Orange CYMS, Blayney Bears, Cowra Magpies, Lithgow Workies and Mudgee Dragons will all contest the premier league competition.

While 2019 Group 10 premier league grand final runners-up Mudgee are the defending champions, Panthers won the competition for three consecutive years 2016-2018, while Cowra won in 2015.