​Lithgow Workies and Portland Colts will be doing their best to bring the title to the Lithgow area.

Woodbridge Cup outfits Binalong and Burrangong bumped the number of sides in the 2017 competition up after the initial draw, meaning the carnival now has four pools of five teams, equating to one of the largest league tag competitions in the state.

After its inception in 2011, won by hosts Canowindra Tigers, the Western Challenge continues to bound from strength to strength, with Western representative Evan Jones thrilled the 2017 tournament has drawn sides from Group 10, Group 11 and Cup competitions, Woodbridge and New Era.

“I think it’s certainly growing, which is great for the game in the area,” Jones said, the 2015 carnival has 13 sides and last year’s tournament had 17.

“There’s not a lot of trial games for league tag sides, so getting 20 teams together all in the one spot.

“Pat’s won last year’s carnival and they’ll be here again. It’s hard to pick.”

As Jones says, St Pat’s won last year’s Western Challenge to go along with 2012 title picked up in the tournament’s second edition.

Between those blue and white victories, Orange clubs have dominated, with Hawks (2013) and CYMS (2014, 15) enjoying success in Canowindra.

In pool D, Group 10 premiers Blayney will head to the tournament as one of the favourites, while, in pool B, Group 11 champions the Parkes Spacecats will be confident as well.

After kicking off their season in Young last weekend, Hawks will be one of the teams to be in pool C, although after a plate victory at the West Wyalong knockout, Forbes has form on the board already in 2017.

A New Era Cup development side, tipped to feature a number of the Cup’s champion CSU Bathurst girls, could also prove a tough opponent out of pool A.

“The New Era Cup named a merit side for the girls at the end of last year, and this side is basically that merit team,” Jones added.

“There’s some Wallerawang girls and Kandos girls in with the CSU players. They’ll be a handy side too.”

Games kick-off at 12.40pm. All pool winners progress through to the semi-finals, which begin at 5pm.

The Challenge’s final kicks off at 6pm at Tom Clyburn Oval.

Pool A: Bathurst St Pats, Binalong Brahmans, Condobolin Rams, Cargo Blue Heelers, New Era Cup Development;

Pool B: Orange Cyms, Parkes Spacemen, Canowindra Tigers, Burrangong Bears, Portland Colts;

Pool C: Orange Hawks, Forbes Magpies, Eugowra Golden Eagles, Grenfell Goannas, Lithgow Workies;

Pool D: Blayney Bears, Dubbo Macquarie, Trundle Boomers, Manildra Rhinos, Orange Barbarians;