The men's matches begin on Saturday but the juniors and women lit up Caltex Park and surrounding grounds during a very warm first day of play.

So often the women's matches are some of the most entertaining at any knockout and that was the case again on Friday.

But it wasn't the dream result for local fans with the Dubbo Wiradjuri All Stars going down to Kempsey in a classic match.

Dubbo got out to a 6-0 lead during the first half and that looked destined to be the final result but two second half tries, one with less than 90 seconds to go, saw Kempsey steal the match.

"It was a good game, it came right down to the wire and that's what women's Koori Knockout is all about," Kempsey captain Simone Smith said.

"They came out firing and we got knocked up a bit, the heat doesn't help, but we stuck around in the final five minutes and got one under the posts to get us across the line."

It was all Dubbo Wiradjuri early on with the likes of Tarlee Roberts and Shayna Naden steering their side around they had the better of the chances.

That pressure finally paid just before the break when Anna Toole came off the bench to score and Roberts' conversion set up a 6-0 lead.

That was how it stayed at half time and after such a dominant 15 minutes they were well placed to advance.

But Kempsey were a different team after the break and skipper Smith was sensational, with her footwork continually putting her side in attacking positions.

Katie Shaw, a Dubbo local playing for Kempsey, was also instrumental as the visitors worked back into the game and scored through Shyana Hammond.

Smith converted to lock it up and Kempsey continued to pummel the Dubbo line after that.

With just minutes remaining it seemed Dubbo would advance as first try-scorers but Hammond was again on hand to step her way across the line and seal a thrilling 12-6 win for her side.

"All day that's what we expected from out girls," Smith said after the match.

"It was a really good game and I'm really looking forward to the next couple days."

Kempsey followed that win with a 30-6 demolition of the Walgett Aboriginal Connection in the quarter finals.

They now meet the highly-fancied Newcastle Yowies in Monday's semi-finals while the other semi sees the Redfern All Blacks take on Wellington's Nanima Common Connection.

"We've got to the grand final before so we know what it takes to get there," Smith said.

"This year we've got a few new girls and we're starting to bring some youth through but I think if we pick it up, now our nerves are out of the way, and go well in the next game we can go all the way.

"Our goal is to get to the final and then winning it will be a bonus so hopefully we can go all the way."