Professional athletics returns to the Illawarra on Saturday with the $8000 event at Dandaloo Sports Ground.

The carnival - part of the lucrative circuit that culminates in the Stawell Gift at Easter - will feature eight races from 70m to 1km, for runners of both sexes aged 15 and over.

The NSW Athletics League (NSWAL) approached the Dandaloo Hotel to resurrect Illawarra professional running after the demise in 2007 of the Dash for Cash event at Beaton Park.

NSWAL general manager Ken English said the region's sporting heritage meant it merited a meet to call its own.

"Given the size and the sporting heritage of the Illawarra, it deserves at least one professional athletics carnival a year," English said.

"A lot of top-class professional runners have come from the Illawarra, including Phil Weston and Brian Gardiner."

English confirmed preparations had begun for next year's meet.

"We want it to be successful, organisers are already looking towards 2011," he said.

"Carnivals take time to build up a tradition, they develop as they go along."

John Jakeman and Lauren Boden, who won the men's and women's Canberra Gifts last weekend, are confirmed starters for Saturday, as are Queanbeyan Gift champion Luke Storta and Australian rugby sevens squad member Michael Dotti.

Although almost 200 athletes have signed up, event officials are calling for Illawarra athletes to test their mettle.

"The biggest hurdle we have at the moment is that, even though the NSW athletics League has almost 200 people registered, so far there is only one representative from the Illawarra," Dandaloo Gift organiser Wendy Stevens said.

"So we want to put it to all the men and women of the Illawarra to put their running shoes on and have a great day out."

Online registration is closed, but entries will be accepted at the ground from 10.30am to 11.30am on race day.

The Dandaloo Gift will be run over 120m, while a highlight will be a 100m race contested by members of the Dandaloo football, Avondale union and league, and Dapto cricket clubs.

All money raised will go to the St Johns Rhinos (rugby league), Avondale Wombats (rugby union) and Lakeside Lions (football) junior clubs.

Racing starts at noon.