WHILST many eyes will be on events at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin this weekend, attention in Australia moves to the Oceanic Masters in Gosford.
The Oceanic Masters was won by New Zealand's Warren Parry 12 months ago, and he will be among 30 players travelling across the Tasman Sea for this weekend's event.
The tournament winner will emulate Parry and join Anthony Fleet and Warren French in representing Australasia in the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in December.
The top 16 players in the DPA rankings qualify for Sunday's second stage automatically, and will be joined by the top four Kiwis and 12 round robin winners from Saturday's first stage.
"This is the biggest weekend of the year in Australasian darts and I know that all the players are looking forward to the Oceanic Masters," said PDC Chief Executive Tim Darby.
"The tournament is the culmination of nine months of hard work for players, who have played on the AGP circuit and looked forward to testing themselves in this tournament.
"Previous winners Simon Whitlock, Barry Jouannet (pictured) and Warren Parry have all been great ambassadors for darts in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship and I'm sure this year's winner will also mount a strong challenge at Purfleet."
A $10,000AU prize has been offered by Unicorn Products and their ADDLON Trading Australian distributor for a nine-dart leg hit at the Oceanic Masters.
"Players over here believe that this tournament is the toughest in Australian darts," said DPA representative Kevin Berlyn.
"They also say it is the best and most challenging, and what greater reward could there be than a place in the World Championship!
"A lot of people are expecting Barry Jouannet to win for a third time, but Russell Stewart is one to watch out for and a new name in the frame is Glen "The Real" Power from Queensland.
"New Zealand are sending over some qualify players again and it should be one of the finest Oceanic Masters on record."
Saturday's Oceanic Masters will be preceded on Friday by a Test Match between Australia and New Zealand.
Fleet will head the four-man Australian side, with Barry Jouannet and Brian Roach having previously played in the World Championship and Peter Corcoran being a seasoned player on the Australian scene.
French leads the Kiwi team alongside Preston Ridd, John Sinclair and Bernie Smith.
Corrine Hammond and Amanda Fish will be the Australian Ladies representatives, coming up against Kiwis Jane Harrington and Chris Hay.
An AGP Masters and APDP Open will also take place at Central Coast Leagues Club during the weekend to accompany the Oceanic Masters.
DPA Oceanic Masters
Top 16 players in AGP Rankings (seeded)
Barry Jouannet, Brian Roach, Peter Corcoran, Russell Stewart, Stuart Everson, Shane Haddy, Dave Fitzpatrick, Phil Heath, Jerry Weyman, Rod Crawford, Rob Denny, Craig Atze, Paul Cotton, Colin Bell, Colin Edwards, Kevin Luland.
The four seeded New Zealanders are: Preston Ridd, John Sinclair, Bernie Smith, Dave Harrington.