For the nation’s top players, the race is on for places in the Growthpoint SA Nationals squash tournament, which will feature eight regional tournaments that will determine the qualifiers for Cape Town.

The Growing Points regional tournaments will be the defining tournaments for the men’s and women’s qualifiers, which will take part in the eight-player South Australian Championship draw.

Players from the South African districts will compete in regional tournaments led by siblings Dewald van Niekerk and Liesel Müller.

Liesel Muller finished second to Alex Fuller last year at the South Australian Championships. Muller established herself as the favorite for the title following her unbeaten streak at the Interprovincial Championship.

Dewald’s older brother, Rudy van Niekerk, will take part in the draw and will be one of the bright favorites to get a place among the eight qualifiers.

This time there will be two women’s tournaments in the region as there is no women’s tournament in Durban, with Teagan Roux and Cheyna Wood leading the respective draws.

Durbach is one of the top eight participants of last year and therefore the fight for qualification with Jacques Duminy is in for an exciting confrontation.