Twenty-four players from across NSW have thrown their hat in the ring.

Among them, Hunter Boccia’s Phil Bates, of Cardiff South, and Wendy Evans, of Charlestown.

Bates’ accolades include a gold medal in the 2014-15 New Zealand Titles; silver in the 2015 Australian National Singles; gold in the 2015 Australian National Pairs and gld in the 2015 Tasmanian Titles.

He was the second-highest ranked player in the country last year.

Evans represented Australia last year at the World Open Titles in Seoul, South Korea.

The Hunter Singles Cup will be held on Saturday, February 6, at Maitland’s Federation Centre Basketball Stadium.

The annual event is a highly-anticipated affair on the wheelchair sports calendar, and this year players from Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tamworth, Orange, and Canberra will line up alongside a large contingent of Sydney players and local athletes to compete for the cup.

Boccia is a game with elements similar to lawn bowls and petanque, played indoors on a 10-metre x 6-metre court.

Specifically designed for players with neuro-muscular conditions, it can be played at recreational or representative levels, and many of the players travelling to Maitland have played for either NSW or Australia.

Hunter Boccia club manager Lucy Bates said: “We are intensely proud of our sport, and would like to invite spectators to come along to watch what will be a day of fierce competition among friends”.