The NZ Beach Volleyball Open returns to Mount Maunganui Main Beach this weekend.

The Sport Bay of Plenty – Volleyball Coachforce officer, Tim Cleaver, says this year's revamped international tour sees the NZ Open dates later than usual.

He says this year it is boasting one of the strongest fields in its history.

Ben O'Dea spikes the ball at the 2010 NZ Open at Mount Maunganui Main Beach.

Tim says the New Zealand charge will be led by Jason Lochhead, Kirk Pitman, Sam O'Dea and Ben O'Dea, who have spent the tour changing up their partnerships and keeping their combinations under wraps for the NZ Open.

The local women looking to make waves are Rotorua's Melissa Ruru and North Harbour's Lydia McCormack, who won the Karapiro Open two weeks ago.

He says leading the international field in the women's category is Sanne Keizer and Marleen van Iersel from the Netherlands.

These two won twice in 2011 on the FIVB Swatch World Tour.

Sara Goller and Laura Ludwig from Germany will also compete in the category with this being their fourth visit to the NZ Open.

The men's field features 2009 Beach Volleyball World Champions Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann of Germany, who won the first event on the NZ International Tour in Karapiro.

The Scandinavians will also be looking to claim a NZ Open title with Hannes Brinkborg and Stefan Gunnarsson from Sweden and Martin Spinnangr and Tarjei Skarlund from Norway.

Tim says Bay of Plenty beach volleyball players compete today in a qualification tournament to secure the last spots in the main draw.

On Saturday the main draw competition begins with 16 men's and 16 women's teams playing in pool play, starting at 9am.

Tim says this will narrow both fields down to eight teams for the quarterfinals first thing on Sunday morning.

The women's final is scheduled to start at 1.30pm and the men's final is at 2.30pm.