It's all systems go for reigning Koori Knockout champions, the Newcastle All Blacks as the months tick by and the carnival's kickoff quickly approaches.
Each year the Knockout brings 100-plus side's together in one of the largest sporting assemblies in the country, and a coming together of grassroots rugby league with some of the best in the game.
Former Dally M medallist Ben Barba, Andrew Fifita, and Souths guns Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker were among league's elite taking the field in last year's carnival in Bombaderry on Yuin Country.
It was the 50th Koori Knockout - some kind of journey since its beginnings at Camdenville Park in Sydney's inner west in 1971.
Barba and Mitchell's Walgett Aboriginal Connection fell to Newcastle All Blacks in the men's final, giving NAB hosting rights this October long weekend.
It was only four years ago when they last played hosts after taking out the men's comp in 2018.
Even still, it's a massive task to put the pieces together for an event that draws in thousands upon thousands.
"It's a bit daunting the first time you do it, but once once you you've done you know what to do the second time around," NAB president Uncle Edward Smith told National Indigenous Times.
"It's pretty much the blueprint of what we've done in 2019."
Uncle Edward said planning began within days of getting home from last year's triumph.
Without a suitable option to house the stacked line up and crowd at home, Newcastle will travel an hour south to Tuggerah and set things up at the eight-ground Central Coast Regional Sporting complex.
"The thing is, no one has a facility like this where you've got all the games in one field… we're all here," NAB treasurer and all-round organiser Carol Widders told NIT at a hosting announcement in January.
Decisions were made around player availability and the juniors age brackets at a delegates meeting last weekend. It confirmed an under 13s, under 15's and under 17s boys competition and under 15s and under 17s for the girls.
Along with the women's fixture, there's a 16-team cap on the junior teams set to compete for victory honours, ensuring no byes throughout the carnival.
Around 60 mens teams are expected to convene beside them on Darkinjung country.
A stakeholders meeting is set for July, before team applications to play close on September 15 with the official draw due the following week.
Uncle Edward joked that the competitive jabs between teams are due to start "very shortly".
As for NAB's chances at going back-to-back, he said "we'll be stronger" again with players unavailable for Bombaderry due to pull on one of many red, black and yellow jumpers in 2023.
The Koori Knockout is set for October 29 to November 1 in Tuggerah.
