Basketball Fiji is hoping home-town advantage will pay off in next week's Oceania Under 19 Championships in Suva.
It's the first time the organisation has hosted a major event on their own.
10 teams will be competing from across the region in both the mens and womens competitions, with a spot at the World Championships in Greece on offer for the winners.
The Secretary General for Basketball Fiji Ned Taito says they are looking forward to playing in front of their home supporters.
"Having said that it will be a big ask. We're in the middle of a development phase for our youth players preparing for the 2015 [Pacific[ Games so we're looking forward to an interesting tournament, given that the programmes we have in place have only matured in the last four years at the national level. We started our age competitions in 2008 [and] we're finally seeing the fruits of that teams with the youth development squads this year - the Under 19 squads - are actually coming up through the Under 15 age-grade champions".
The Oceania Championships begin on Monday while coaches of the senior national teams for next year's Pacific Games will also be in town for workshops.