With five men's and five women's places up for grabs, 50 contenders will hussle to strengthen their claims ahead of the final selection event, the Australian Closed Championships, in Kilsyth next week.

Among those gunning for a games berth will be Ballarat Olympians Kellie Lucas, Stuart Brehaut and Ashley Brehaut, as well as rising star Erin Carroll, 19.

With nine to 10 Aussies mounting serious assaults on both the men's and women's squads, the quartet will need to excel under the watchful eyes of national selectors.

Lucas, a Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, and women's doubles partner Kate Wilson-Smith have a world ranking of 41 and enter the international in first-class form after defeating the number one seeds to win the Western

Australian International in late July.

The pair again knocked off the top ranked duo to reach the semi-final of the New Zealand Open at the weekend. Lucas said she was pleased with the performance.

"We only started playing together in March this year, and in the last few tournaments we've really started to come together and play better as a pair," she said.

Australian badminton team captain Stuart Brehaut and mixed doubles partner Tania Luiz, ranked 38, are also enjoying a strong run after reaching the semi-final at the open, while Ashley Brehaut and men's doubles partner

Stuart Gomez scored a semi-final clash after defeating the third seeds.

Ashley, who will combine with Dennis Constantin this week, said he was enjoying his best form in two years.

"Those three (from Ballarat) are certainly playing quite well," Ballarat Badminton Association director and Olympian Rhonda Cator said.

Carroll, meanwhile, graduated to the senior ranks this season and is considered the Commonwealth Games selection dark horse.

"It's fair to say she's found the competition fairly tough, but she's been able to step up to the next level," Ms Cator said.

"She's still in contention and will be looking for a few good results and to put up her hand in front of the selectors."

A world-class field of 130 players from 15 countries will contest the four-day event, which will be the largest badminton tournament held in Australia in the lead-up to the games in March.