Cowra High School travels to Albury on Tuesday for the inter-area playoffs, along with ACT’s St John Paul II, Riverina-based Marian Catholic College and Rowville Secondary College from Victoria.

Cowra and Rowville go head-to-head on Tuesday with the winner progressing to the round of 16 on Wednesday against the winner of St John Paul II and Marian.

The quarterfinals is scheduled for August 17 before the competition’s top four compete in the National Finals Series taking place over two days in September at Lake Macquarie.

Cowra qualified for the inter-area playoffs as the Western champions after defeating Cowra’s St Raphael’s Catholic School 13-2, Redbend College 7-0, St John’s Dubbo 2-1 and Bathurst High School 3-1 in the western final.

Cowra High School teacher and coach Jill Dunk said it is the furthest Cowra has made it in the competition in years.

“I can’t remember us making it this far,” she said.

Key players for the upcoming game include Dun brothers Pat and Sam, Zac Perkins and Bevan Foxall.

The side will have to do it without its regular captain Darcy Callaghan who is sidelined with injury, and its first pick goalie Finn Ryan, also injured, who is replaced by Tom Seears.

This is the competition’s 40th anniversary year.

It involves 850 teams from NSW, Queensland, ACT and Victoria.