Nine young swimmers will be representing Tonga at the Oceania swimming competition to start in Auckland, tomorrow.

The Tongan team of nine swimmers is made up of six locally trained and three overseas swimmers.

The four-days event, 20-23 May offers an opportunity for Pacific Islands' swimmers to qualify for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, in Scotland in August.

Competing in the Auckland will be swimmers from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti New Caledonia, Hawaii, Marshall Islands and the Cook Islands.

The Tongan team is made up of nine swimmers and a four-members management team.

The six locally trained swimmers are: clina Panuve, Tomasi Fineanganofo, Alvin Uhi, 'Ioane Siakumi, Andrew Emberson and Penisimani Mohetau.

The three overseas swimmers are: Tonga Li Panuve, Fiji; and 'Ifa Paea and Irene Prescott, Australia.

The management team are: Julie Fonua, Manager; Rochelle Fineanganofo, Coach; Sarah Prescott, Assistant Manger and Sione Fonua, the president of TSAA.

The Auckland Oceania is the first international competition for five locally trained swimmers, whereas two of the overseas trained swimmers have competed in international competitions.

However, the president of the Tonga Swimming and Aquatics Association TSAA, Sione Tu'itavake Fonua is hopeful for qualifiers for the Commonwealth Games.