Keep in mind that if this is your 1st year you will be rather low on the preference system. You may want to apply for a later time period to increase your odds of being chosen. The periods that do not contain a weekend also tend to receive less applications so you odds are better. Good luck. They are a blast to hunt
First year I applied I believe I got it, then the next year I didnt get it, then I got it again, and then got a surplus. Then I didnt get it and then i got it again. Seems I get it every other year.
I have gotten them a couple times back to back. You get one point for every year you apply. If you get drawn it goes back to zero if not they carry over.