The Professional Bull Riders Australia has announced that nine of Australia's top 10 ranked riders will be taking part in the much-anticipated PBR Monster Energy Tour: Newcastle Invitational.

Returning for an eleventh consecutive year at Newcastle Entertainment Centre, the jam-packed event will include last year's PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier (the number one ranked rider this year,), Singleton cowboy Cody Heffernan (No. 2) and Queesnlander charge Brady Fielder (No.3).

In addition to Heffernan, the Newcastle and Hunter region will be strongly represented by Gresford brothers Lachlan and Cliff Richardson, who currently sit at No.5 and No.6 in the 2019 PBR Australia title race - and Upper Horton hometown hero Troy Wilkinson (No.10), who took out the 2017 PBR Australia Championship.

Other big names confirmed to the 2019 Newcastle Invitational roster include Brazilian rider Rubens Barbosa (No.8), Mareeba (Qld) cowboy Kurt Shephard (No.4) and Nebo (Qld) contender Mitch Paton (No.7).

"Cody [Heffernan] sat atop Australia's PBR standings until very recently, and he still remains a strong contender to take out the 2019 crown," PBR Australia general manager Glen Young said.

Last year's Newcastle Invitational saw Aaron Kleier and Cliff Richardson both go three-for-three to notch identical point totals and dually take out the championship title.

This year's event will feature two full rounds and a championship round, comprising a total of 52 buckouts.

Hunter-based protection athletes Geoff Hall and Mitch Russell, who tour the PBR nationally, will also enjoy a rare hometown matchup with some of Australia's best bucking bulls at the Newcastle event stop.

Russell will also double up as stock contractor for the event, with some of his best Hunter-bred bulls set to hit the dirt in a bid to claim top honours for TnR Bucking Bulls (Mitch Russell and Edward Throsby).

The Newcastle Invitational is an internationally sanctioned PBR tour event.

It forms part of the global series that allows riders from across Australia to accumulate rankings points for the PBR Australia Standings and PBR World Standings, which ultimately determine the PBR Australia Champion, as well as qualification for the multi-million dollar PBR World Finals which crowns the world's best individual bull rider.

Entertainment on the night will include pyrotechnics and an official afterparty event at The Kent Hotel in Hamilton that will give fans a special opportunity to meet and mingle with the cowboys. Tickets are on sale at www.ticketek.com.au