Los Angeles  - Spaniards Rudy Fernandez of the Portland Trail Blazers and Mar Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies will try to snap a six-game stranglehold the Sophomores have over the first-year players, after being selected on Wednesday to the Rookie Challenge Team.

The event kicks off next month's NBA All-Star Weekend, February 13-15 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose, the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, leads the rookies team, which is highlighted by two sets of teammates.

Fernandez will be joined by Portland centre Greg Oden, while Gasol and Memphis teammate O. J. Mayo were honoured.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook, LA Clippers guard Eric Gordon, Miami Heat forward Michael Beasley and New Jersey Nets centre Brook Lopez round out the nine-man roster.

Thunder forward Kevin Durant heads the Sophomore squad. The NBA's reigning Rookie of Year will have teammate Jeff Green at his side.

Atlanta Hawks forward/centre Al Horford, LA Clippers forward Al Thornton, Philadelphia 76ers forward Thaddeus Young, New York Knicks forward Wilson Chandler, Detroit Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, along with Houston Rockets teammates guard Aaron Brooks and Argentine forward Luis Scola fill out the roster of second-year stars.

The players were selected by the NBA's assistant coaches, with each team submitting one ballot.

The head coaches for the Rookie and Sophomore teams will be the lead assistants from the 2009 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs.

In last year's game, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel Gibson took home Most Valuable Player honours, scoring a game-high 33 points with 11 three-pointers, leading the Sophomores to a 136-109 victory over the Rookies.

It gave the second-year stars a 7-2 advantage, including six in a row in the all-time series. dpa