THREE veteran hockey players will battle it out at the Australian Masters this weekend as part of the WA country team.

Neil Waywood will play in the team for the ninth year, this year in the 50s grade, Gary Faries is playing his third year, this time in the 45s grade and Rick McLoughlin is in the team for the first time, also in the 45s grade.

There will be 62 teams from throughout Australia heading to Darwin to play in the Masters, but WA is the only state sending a country team.

The country team has members from as far as Geraldton and Kalgoorlie to Esperance, as well as Collie.

All three Collie players have been meeting about once a month to train as a team and to prepare for the competition, which they say will be no walk in the park.

“It is an exceptional lever and we take it very seriously,” Waywood said.

Faries said he had found a whole new passion for hockey upon joining the team.

The Australian Masters was originally started for older players who were not playing in grade hockey anymore but now it has become more competitive and any men over the age of 40 can play.