Five of the 12 finalists in the 2022 National Shearing Circuit title are from Southland, pitting the region against the rest of New Zealand. 

Finalists were decided after the fourth and fifth qualifying rounds at the Apiti and Districts Show shearing and wool handling championships last weekend. 

The finals will be held at Armidale Merino Stud, near Gimmerburn, Central Otago this Saturday.

Shearing Sports New Zealand say Southlanders are also the first four in order of favouritism at the TAB. 

Bets are led by 2014 winner and Invercargill shearer Nathan Stratford, who holds 17 previous finals in the event and career total of 73 open finals. 

Other favourites include Leon Samuels, also of Invercargill, who won the final at his first attempt last year, and Ringakaha Paewai of Gore, a two-times National circuit finalist. 

Coming forth is Mataura shearer Brett Roberts, who won the Apiti Open final and came third in his first National Circuit final in 2019.

The fifth Southland shearer to qualify is Lionel Taumata, of Gore.

The event is in its 50th season and incorporates the McSkimming Memorial Triple Crown, usually contested at the Golden Shears in Masterton.

The Golden Shears has been cancelled for the past two years due to Covid-19 restrictions. 

The showdown at Armidale Merino Stud will be on merino wethers, half-bred merino-romney ewes, second-shear crossbred longwool and lambs, with four of each in the semi-finals and five of each in the final.