Two Tauranga surf lifesavers are among a team of 10 gearing up to represent New Zealand in Japan this week where they'll take on six other countries at the annual Sanyo Cup event.

Murdoch Finch from the Omanu Beach Surf Lifesaving Club and Scott Cowdrey from the Papamoa Surf Lifesaving Club are among the young athletes selected this year.

Held at Momochi Seaside Park in Fukuoka, the Japan Lifesaving Association event is now in its 11th year and the New Zealand team is aiming for the top.

New Zealand team coach Danny Morrison says it will be a tough but rewarding event for the team, led by experienced competitors Cory Taylor and Casie Fyall as team captain and vice-captain.

'The competition will be fierce as there are so many great athletes from all over the world participating at the Sanyo Cup. The race format can be very challenging so every single race is vital to your overall success, and that's how we'll be tackling the event.”

The team will go head-to-head against athletes from Australia, USA, Great Britain, South Africa, Hong Kong and host, Japan.

The Momochi Seaside Park is known for being ‘flat', unlike many of New Zealand's beaches, however it's the Australian team who will post the biggest challenge to the Kiwi team as the reigning champions, says Morrison.

'Australia has won this event every year since it started in 2007 so they will no doubt be as strong as usual, but we also have to keep a close eye on Japan. Every year they are getting better and better, so we look forward to seeing how they've progressed this year and having a good battle with them.”

This is the first international event for many of the team, who are also qualified lifeguards and patrol beaches around New Zealand throughout summer.

'This is a fantastic opportunity for our younger athletes to race on the international stage against some of the best in the world. We are looking forward to seeing them compete to the best of their abilities and make everyone at home proud of their achievements, which we're certain they'll do,” says Morrison.

Team captain Cory Taylor from Gisborne says the support they get from New Zealand is really important to the team, as is the black cap.

'To race under the black cap is so exciting. Every time you put it on, it makes everything so much more real,” he says.

Vice-captain Casie Fyall, also of Gisborne, echoed Taylor's sentiments.

'I can't wait to race with the team and represent New Zealand again. Wearing the black cap can make people do some pretty amazing stuff, so I can't wait to see the team give it a crack and put their foot on the line with the best of the best.”

The 2018 Sanyo Cup team includes:

Casie Fyall, Waikanae (Vice-Captain); Claudia Kelly, East End; Cory Taylor, Midway (Captain);

Hannah Baker, East End; Louis Clark, Taylors Mistake; Luther Maxwell, Lyall Bay; Macy Burns, Lyall Bay; Murdoch Finch, Omanu Beach; Olivia Corrin, Midway; Scott Cowdrey, Papamoa.

The team will be led by the management team of Danny Morrison (coach), Jack Gavin (assistant coach) and Steve Vaughan (manager).