As far as dress rehearsals go, this weekend's Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens tournament couldn't get any bigger for the respective Bay of Plenty sides, desperately in need of a change in fortune.

Saturday's annual tournament will see what the nation's best 18 Sevens provinces have to offer at Mount Maunganui's Blake Park – the precursor to the Bayleys National Sevens Tournament in Rotorua on January 16-17.

Bay of Plenty's Curtis Van Der Heyden looks to get around Northland opposition at the 2014 edition of the Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens tournament. Photo: Rick Moran.

From 9am through to the men's final at 6.10pm, men's and women's sides will battle it out for an early psychological foothold heading into next weekend.

Last year Manawatu overcame Auckland in the final of the Women's event 30-10, while Auckland mens outplayed Taranaki 26-7 to finish top of the pile and take out the Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens 2014 title.

Manawatu went on to win the national event while Auckland fell at the last hurdle to Wellington in the men's final.

At Blake Park the Bay men had a disappointing run – drawing with Northland along with losses to Auckland and North Harbour before turning it around in Rotorua for a credible fourth-place finish.

The women didn't fare much better, losing to Canterbury, Waikato, Wellington and Counties Manukau.

And the task doesn't get any easier given that Saturday's sides include perennial Sevens powerhouses Auckland, Taranaki and Wellington, while the women's division will be equally fierce with favourites Manawatu, Waikato and Canterbury all in the mix.

For the Bay men it gives them an early look at one of their Rotorua opponents, Canterbury, having drawn a tough pool of the southerners, Counties Manukau, and South Canterbury in next week's Pool B.

While anything can happen in Sevens, the men will be looking to get past North Harbour and Manawatu before tougher matches against Canterbury and Auckland.

The women face Auckland, Wellington and Waikato – the latter claiming last month's Northern Region Sevens tournament.

Whether sides decide to play strategically, keeping some tactics close to their chest ahead of the national showpiece, will be intriguing given the short turnaround from this weekend.

In Rotorua the Bay women are in a pool with defending champions Manawatu, Wellington, Taranaki and Canterbury.

Held at the Rotorua International Stadium, the top two men's sides from each pool advance to the Cup quarter finals and the top three in both women's pools will progress to the playoffs for the Cup.

For a full list of matches at the Bay Engineers Provincial Sevens tournament click here.

Key Details:

When: Saturday January 10, 9am – 6pm

Where: Blake Park, Mount Maunganui

Entry: $5 for 15 years and over, FREE for 14 years and under

Bay of Plenty Men's Team

Matt Axtens, Te Rangi Fraser, Ralulu Bavou, Junior Taia, Adam McGarvey, Chris Elvin, Curtis Van Der Hayden, Te Aihe Tamo, Courtney Mita, Trinity Neera-Spooner, Mason Walker, Josh Honey, Jason Harvey, Bryn Uriarau.

Bay of Plenty Women's Team

Sapphire Tapsell, Mystery Mclean-Kora, Morgan Morrow, Jessica Barnes, Rachel Wikeepa, Takiri Butler (capt), Kelly Brazier (vcapt), Billie Raynes, Sequoia Te Aonui, Jimi McLean, Kendra Reynolds, Alexis Tapsell.