Saigokusuji-gundai was regarded as the higher position than other regular gundai because it had close relationship with tozama yuhan (outside feudal lord of powerful domain), such as the Shimazu clan, the Hosokawa clan, the Nabeshima clan, and the Kuroda clan.
また接することの多い島津氏、細川氏、鍋島氏、黒田氏という外様雄藩との関係から通常の代官より格上の郡代とされた。