Moree Suns head to Narrabri for annual Crossroads Cup

Hosted by the Narrabri Eagles, the tournament traditionally features a team from every club in AFL North West and see's each team compete in a series of shortened 14-a-side matches.

The tournament will feature all AFL North West NSW men's sides except the Inverell Saints.

"They contacted us a few day's ago to let us know they would be sending a women's team but not a men's team," Eagles vice-president Tom Carberry said.

"I'm not too sure the reason behind it, however I know it can be a tough time of year to organise players to come to things like this.

"We are very understanding of their decision and other than that it is shaping up to be a really good day." 

This year's event will also see the first-ever women's tournament played on the same day, with four teams set to battle it out.

"At this stage the two Tamworth clubs, Moree and Inverell will be sending a team to take part in the tournament," Carberry said.

"It is great to see the girls get involved in the day and I think having their own tournament is a really good indication of how much the women's game has grown in our region.

"In the past we may have only had a stand-alone women's match on the day, so for them to have enough teams to have their own tournament is really special."

For the Suns, it will be their first competitive game of the year after their planned preseason match against the Sawtell-Toormina Saints was unfortunately washed out. 

Saturday's tournament is set to be a final hit out for the clubs ahead of the opening games of the home and away season on April 27.

"I think it will be a pretty good chance for everyone to measure how they are tracking so far," Carberry said.

"Everyone has been training hard in the preseason and it should be really good to have a good run leading into the season."

The Suns men kick off the tournament when they take on Narrabri at 10am, while the Suns women have their first game at 10.45am against the Tamworth Swans.