New coach Nick Rzepecky hopes to bring a fresh approach to the Footballsouth team in the women's national youth league, and his team has a daunting challenge first up, with a match against Central in Palmerston North tomorrow.
Rzepecky, who answers to Zippy to make life easier, sees the league as a vital step in the ladder towards national selection.
"This competition allows players from the Footballsouth area to be able to show their skills at a national level, giving them the chance to be selected for the Football Ferns," he said.
"We are looking to improve on last season's fourth place in the southern conference."
All games will be attended by New Zealand Football scouts, as the league is seen as the last chance for players to press their claims for New Zealand under-17 and under-20 world cup qualifiers early next year.
The new coach has reselected 11 players from Footballsouth's previous squad. This includes Mary Fraser, Sam Muirhead, Georgia Brown and Shontelle Smith, who were selected in previous national squads.
Others to return to are Jordyn Walker, Chelsea Whittaker, Kelsey Kennard, Tessa Nicol, Amber Mulhill-Larsen, Charley Kerry and Paige Aitcheson.
After a gap, Una Madden, Bianca Roy, Carena Oosterbaan and Sara Stannard return to representative football, while Caitlyn Bloxham is representing Footballsouth for the first time, after playing for Central last season.
Rzepecky said the players had "quickly come together as a squad after only having their first trial on September 10, with the initial 18 players being named a week later".
A number of trainings and a couple of warm-up games have the squad in a competitive state, with players providing selection headaches for the coach.
"In the first game this weekend, it is important for the squad to settle into their game plan early and make the most of all the goal scoring opportunities that come their way," he said.
Rzepecky will be joined by assistant coach Sally Hicks, goalkeeping coach Steve Brooks and manager Sheryl Walker.
Footballsouth
Women's squad of 16
Chelsea Martin (captain), Tess Nicol, Shontelle Smith, Caitlyn Bloxham, Alice Foote, Chelsea Whittaker, Kelsey Kennard, Una Madden, Paige Aitcheson, Sara Stannard, Sam Muirhead, Monique Francois, Amber Mulhill-Larsen, Jordyn Walker, Mary Fraser, Carena Oosterbaan.
