It's the 13^th year for the iconic rugby league match, which honours the memory of distinguished local soldier Matthew Locke, who won a Medal for Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan.

Last year saw the Bellingen side victorious for only the second time, so the military are determined to win back the crown.

However, due to COVID, the Magpies won't be facing Army Thunder as usual.

The match at Bellingen Park on Saturday February 27 will see the Magpies pitted against a NSW-based Australian Defence Force team drawn from across the three services.

The Ford street gate will be open from 11am and organiser Debbie Locke said as things stand, there will be three games.

"Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions on travel the Army are unable to form a women's side. That leaves local games and the Army vs Bellingen Mens game at 6pm," Debbie said.

"Despite the setback we continue to raise funds for Soldier On and The Grub Club who lead the field in mental health activities for veterans and first responders and education in Timor Leste."

Debbie said Governor General David Hurley and his wife Linda Hurley are booked to come as usual.

It will be their seventh time attending the event, and their second since moving from Government House in Sydney to Yarralumla in Canberra.

Matthew Locke, who was born in Bellingen, was a distinguished Australian soldier who served in the Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan.

In 2006 he was awarded the Medal for Gallantry - the third highest award in the Australian honours system - after he and another SAS soldier, greatly outnumbered by the enemy, dodged volleys of gunfire to neutralise an attack on an SAS observation post.

His distinguished military career was cut short the following year when he was shot in the chest by Taliban fighters during an operation to drive them out of the Chora Valley, a Taliban stronghold 15 km from the Australian base at Tarin Kowt.

Since his death, his family have organised a rugby league charity match every year between the Magpies and the Army team in memory of him.

His sister Debbie Locke also established The Grub Club, a not-for-profit organisation set up to help children in war-torn areas such as Afghanistan and Timor Leste to obtain an education by supplying resources like books, paper, pens and pencils.