Cox is among six South Coast players in the Southern Zone squad to take on neighbours Illawarra, Riverina and Western Zone in the championships at Griffith starting next Friday.

Cox is joined in the squad by Kookas teammates Mick Perry and Callum DeBruin, plus teenage Gerringong fast bowler Lachlan Hall, The Rail's Tim Goodall and Kiama skipper Matt O'Brien.

"I'm not getting any younger and don't know whether this will be the last time but I love playing the country champs," Cox said.

The championships feature the eight NSW country zones, with the Northern pool of Newcastle, North Coastal, Central Northern and Central Coast beginning their round-robin on Friday.

While a host of South Coast's top players are again unavailable and an official Southern Zone squad has not yet been publicly released, Cox says his side can upset Illawarra on day one next Friday.

"I think our top order and middle order is settled and we can make plenty of runs," Cox said.

"I have massive raps on our young quick Lachy [Hall], who is only 18, raw, but has a great future and can hurry up the batsmen.

"Illawarra haven't Graeme Batty anymore and he's a massive part of their team. The pressure will be on them and I reckon we can beat them."

Last year Illawarra were 3-20 chasing Southern Zone's 186 in the opening match of the carnival before Batty smashed an unbeaten 96 and Dale Scifleet an undefeated 64 in a match-winning 167-run stand.

Illawarra have had a tumultuous week with coach Dean Merola resigning following player unrest over his appointing Rob Fisher as Illawarra skipper.

New Illawarra coach Steve Davies, who coached the Illawarra to their last country title in 2011, asked Fisher to remain in the squad, but the Corrimal skipper elected to withdraw.

NSW Country all-rounder Jono Cook is the new captain, with his Bush Blues teammate and Dapto skipper Scifleet the vice-captain.

Illawarra have dominated Southern in recent country championships and last year won three tight games in their pool, before losing the final to Newcastle.

Unlike Illawarra who can pick the best players from one competition, Southern Zone name players from several associations and the politics of zone cricket mean they do not select their best team.

The Mercury contacted several Southern Zone sources but was unable to garner their squad, which is believed to have again been hit hard by late withdrawals.

It is understood Highlands-based Nathan Wright will skipper the side, while former Oak Flats batting star Kieran Gray, who is now playing in the Shoalhaven association, will be a key figure at the top of the order.