Having dominated the last Pacific Games four years ago New Caledonia is being tipped to top the medal tally once more.
The territory brought home 227 medals from the Apia Games in 2007.
They also won 90 gold medals, which was more than their nearest rivals, Tahiti and Samoa, combined.
This year New Caledonia is hosting the Games, for the third time, and the Chef de Mission for the Cook Islands team, George George Williamson, says that will only make them harder to beat.
"New Caledonia for as far as I can remember: I've been around long enough to know that in the Olympics you've got the Americans and when it comes to South Pacific Games it's New Caledonia that all the other countries fear."
George George Williamson says, having hosted the last mini-games, the Cook Islands know the perks of competing on home soil although he admits it's nice to be entering an event this year with a little less pressure.
