The Maitland and Port Stephens Toyota Wildcard Trials is the first event of Surfest 2017, which will be staged mostly at Merewether beach but also has events in Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.

Surfers will compete on Saturday for wildcards in eight events – the men’s and women’s world qualifying series contests, the men’s and women’s junior pros and the 14s and 16s girls’ and boys’ cadet cups.

Stating strong cases for a men’s wildcard will be Fingal surfer Chris Michalak, Caves Beach’s Justin McMorland and Merewether pair Jake Sylvester and Jesse Adam.

The winner gets passage into the round of 96 surfers of the Maitland and Port Stephens Toyota Pro, being contested at Merewether beach on February 20 to 26.

“The trials traditionally were for local surfers only,” Surfest media manager Paul Scott said. “But now it is open to anyone and there is going to be some high-level competition there.

“McMorland, Sylvester and Michalak have all won wildcards before. A lot of the guys are going to enter the competition anyway but to win a wildcard increases their chances to end up in the money rounds.”

Among those contesting the wildcard trials for junior events will be Sabre Norris, 12, and her siblings Sockie, nine, and Biggy, 7. The trio are children of Olympic medallist Justin Norris.