After finishing in second position at last months surftag qualifier at Cronulla, the South Coast’s Werri Beach Boardriders are eager to win the title they last won in 2009.

Werri Beach have named the same team that saw them finish runners-up to Maroubra last month at Cronulla, with team captain Dean Bowen pleased everyone is available for the Australian Championships, which run from April 27-28.

Matt Gale, Doug Chandler, Tully Robinson and Zac Scott will line up next to Bowen at Duranbah Beach when competition gets underway on Friday.

Bowen who has been carrying a knee injury for the majority of the year is glad he is finally fully fit and has been training hard,.

“The boys are keen for a trip away and excited to try and bring back the title to Werri”, Bowen said.

“The team has been training and practicing the surftag format and with an experienced team we feel ready to go.

“It’s great we have the same team as the qualifier so hopefully we can keep the momentum going at Duranbah”.

Werri Beach finished in seventh position at last year’s Sailor Jerry Surftag Australian Championships going down to North Narrabeen and Elouera in the quarter-finals.

With a large swell forecast for later in the week on the Gold Coast, the Werri Beach team will like their chances of a big result.

With Australian Titles on the line in both men’s and women’s divisions, defending men’s champions Shelly Beach Boardriders (Central Coast) will go into the event as number one seeds with D’Bah Boardriders looking to create history by winning their fourth straight Australian Title in the women’s.

Men’s teams competing include, Bronte, Elouera, Cronulla, Scarborough, Werri Beach, Queenscliff, North Avalon, Long Reef, Dee Why, Avoca, North Shelly, Merewether, Torquay, Mornington Peninsula, 13th Beach, Lennox-Ballina, Cabarita, Kingscliff, D’Bah, Snapper Rocks, Kirra, Burleigh Heads and North End.

In the women’s division defending champions D’Bah Boardriders will be up against, Cronulla girls, Christian Surfers Cronulla, Queenscliff, Mornington Peninsula, Merewether, North Shelly, Currumbin Alley and North End.