The rodeo is for championship points in the Australian Professional Rodeo Association so has attracted some of the best riders in the nation.

Tooma cowboy Brad Pierce has won a rookie all around title in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in America and will compete in a field including Rosewood rider Tim Hammond.

Junee rider Matt Hedlund is second in APRA standings in steer wrestling and will face his toughest opposition from Victorian star Terry Evison and Scone rider Heath Nichols.

Hedlund needs to win money at Wagga  to stay in touch with standings leader Lee Kimber from Victoria who is making the trek to a rodeo in Peterborough, South Australia, this weekend.

In bareback, Tumbarumba rider Ben Hall is one of the favourites.

A strong field of 25 has nominated for the breakaway roping including reigning APRA champion Stephanie Gard, of Tabletop in New South Wales.

There are 159 nominations for the rodeo, including Bob Holder in team roping.

Holden hails from Cootamundra and has been competing in Australia and America for the past 60 years.

Being in his 80s hasn’t stopped Holder from competing and he has made the trek to Mt Isa and Warwick in recent years to compete against the best of the best. He is in team roping at Wagga Wagga.

Pro tour titles for most money won in the season are on the line in the APRA, with less than three months remaining this season.

Wagga Wagga Rodeo will start 5pm Saturday at the Equex Arena.

STANDINGS LEADERS: All around cowboy - Shane Kenny (Emerald, Qld), Saddle bronc - Michael Maher (Warwick, Qld), Bull ride - Roy Dunn (Proserpine, Qld), Bareback bronc ride - David Worsfold (Wandoan, Qld), Rope and tie - Shane Kenny (Emerald, Qld), Steer wrestling - Lee Kimber (Lockington, Victoria), Team roping header - Clancy Middleton (Hughenden, Qld), Team roping heeler - Brody Moss (Emerald, Qld), All around cowgirl - Wendy Caban (Moree, Qld), Barrel race - Jill Lyons (Gracemere, Qld), Breakaway roping - Jane Fay (Warra, Qld)