Mawdsley will be recognised at a gala ceremony in Melbourne before the Australian Open, having been named as a finalist along with last year's winner, Victorian Dylan Fisher.

The reigning Australian junior singles champion, Mawdsley has been named in the NSW under 25 team for the national division competition this year.

He will spend the rest of this year diving into the deep end of the senior competitions, taking on some of the world's best in his chosen sport.

"The major goal last year was the Australian juniors singles championships and I achieved that, so I'm looking forward to playing more in the seniors," Mawdsley said.

"It's great to be nominated for this award; I didn't know it existed until a couple of months ago, so it's a bit of an honour.

"At the moment I want to focus on the under 25 competition with NSW and then work my way into some of the open tournaments and see how I go."

Mawdsley will compete in the singles at the Australian Open after being bundled out in the first round last year.

He will also compete in the doubles with Fairy Meadow bowler Tim Christie and in the triples.

Mawdsley was disappointed with his results at last month's South Pacific tournament, where he was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the junior singles.

But he said he was hopeful of holding his own in the under 25s for NSW.

"It is a bit of a stepping stone towards playing for Australia, which I'd like to do in the next couple of years," he said.

"I'm just going to take my time in the senior competitions, but I'll be doing my best to match it with the men."