POLOCROSSE: The Southern Downs will be the polocrosse captaincy hub when Queensland hosts New South Wales and Victoria in Barastoc Interstate Series at Easter.

Cameron Shepherd from the Warwick club is men's open captain, a role he filled for Australia at the 2011 World Cup in the United Kingdom.

Cunningham player Lauren Cant is women's open captain after playing for Australia in last year's World Cup in South Africa.

Both Shepherd and Cant were in Australian teams that came third.

Warwick Polocrosse Club president Les Fraser said 18 teams had nominated for the interstate series.

"I expect a lot of the players in interstate teams in next month's nationals in Albury will play in the same combinations in Warwick at Easter," Fraser said.

"I would like to think we will get between 60 and 70 teams for the Shell Cup club competition which will be the first carnival in Queensland this year."

Fraser said the fact seven Warwick players were state coaches/managers for the Barastoc proved the ability of the players on the Southern Downs to be able to coach and manage at state level.

"Most of the Warwick officials with state teams at Easter will have similar positions for the nationals."

The officials from the Warwick club selected for the Barastoc are Trish Shepherd, Paul McGrath, Tricia Barlow, Charlie Brook, Kent Wells, Cameron Shepherd and Jo Lawrence. Robyn Cooper (Cunningham) is girls coach.

Southern Downs players in state teams

• Open Cameron Shepherd (Warwick) Captain.
• Women Lauren Cant (Cunningham) Captain
• Masters Mixed Anita Shepherd (W)
• U30 Mixed Katie Barr, Steph Edwards (both W), Chris Sillitoe (C)
• U21 Men Braydon Beck (W), Zac O'Leary (C)
• U21 Women Carly Cooper (C), Tori Sherriff, Jordan McGrath (W)
• U16 Girls Keely McGrath, Sophie Wells (both W), Chloe Schultz (C)
• U16 Boys Callum Brook (W), Daniel Cooper (C).

Program

Friday March 25 - Games from 10am and 8pm

Saturday March 26 - Games 7.30am to 9pm

Sunday March 27 - Games 7.30am to 2.30pm