Pens will be replaced with paddles as a group of students compete in the state final of the Victorian Schools Singles table tennis competition at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Six of those 16 are heading to the big smoke with high expectations after participating in the South West Academy of Sport's junior table tennis development pathway program.

Warrnambool Table Tennis Association president Mark Taylor said the group had held five high performance training sessions and numerous local training sessions since the program started last month.

"We're hoping for some big things from the kids but nerves and opposition are unknown at this stage," he said.

"They have all shown a big improvement though both in their ability to train as well as playing.

"They'll play somewhere between five and seven games in round robin style.

"Every school in the state was invited so the standard of competition should be pretty high."

Students progressed to the state final after being successful in a qualifying tournament and zone final two months ago.

Out of the academy group, today marks the fourth appearance in a state final for Warrnambool player Ben Taylor while Hamilton's Nathan Caruana will participate in his second event.

The remaining four - Emma Manderson, Hamish Porter and Jacob Lenehan of Warrnambool and Brandon Lacey of Hamilton - are first-timers.

"We've had pretty good success over the years," Taylor said.

"We've won the senior girls division the last two years with Rebecca Cain and we've had a variety of runners-up and finishes in the top three in the past."