The star-studded Engadine side of Shane Garvey, Anthony Moran, Greg Helm and Brendon Edwards was left relying on other results to progress to the knockout rounds.

After easily winning its first match against Wiseman's Park, Garvey's team was upset by Dapto Citizens in its second game.

Engadine needed to win their last match by more than 10 shots and hope Dapto Citizens lost to Wiseman's Park.

Results went Engadine's way. They beat Albion Park by 26 and Citizens lost their last match.

"They certainly deserved to beat us ... and we were lucky they lost their last game," Helm said.

"But that's bowls, I guess, it's always see-sawing either way, especially sectional play, it's luck of the draw in a way."

Garvey and Moran were part of the fours side which won last year.

Amongst a host of individual achievements, Garvey has been named the player of the tournament four times, a record.

The profile of the Engadine players, three of whom were part of this month's State Premier League winning side, means opponents are always gunning for an upset when they face them.

"They're the big fish to take out," Helm said of his team-mates.

"Everyone steps up to the plate when they play us."

Helm, who has just returned from a 12-month lay-off, will team up with Garvey in the pairs today. He is hoping the upset loss in sectional play is a good sign.

"When Shane and Anthony won the fours last year they went through the same thing - they won their first game, lost their second and had to win their third to go through - so hopefully history might repeat itself.

"You can't take anything for granted though, as we saw today, there is so much quality right across the board at this tournament," Helm admitted.

Most of the favoured teams survived day one, but Brian Harriott's Dapto Citizens side was eliminated at Windang.

The tournament continues today with pairs, while the fours restart on Wednesday.