The 19-year-old Southern Storm midfielder had a strong rookie season and hopes that experience will stand her in good stead this year.
The Storm opens its campaign against Canterbury in Christchurch today and McLean is optimistic the game will not be a repeat of the 9-1 drubbing last season.
''I hope so,'' she said.
Mostly, though, last year was a good experience for her. The Storm avoided the wooden spoon match, finishing sixth in the eight-team competition.
And with a good core players back for another stint, the team hopes to build on its performances.
''It was a good learning experience for me. Playing against Black Sticks like Anita Punt and Stacey Michelsen, and having to mark them was a pretty big ask.
''I definitely learnt heaps and I'm looking forward to taking what I've learnt into this year's campaign.
''I'm hoping to make more of an impact and just make sure I'm holding my own against those top players to show I can compete at that top level.''
The Storm is realistic about its opening fixture. Canterbury went to Australia for its pre-season, whereas the Storm has had to muddle through.
About half the team is based in Auckland and trains with coach Rod Rzepecky. The rest are based in Dunedin or in Southland and are put through their paces by Southern men's coach Dave Ross. It is far from ideal and Canterbury ought to be too well-drilled for the Storm.
''We have not quite had the same build-up as the other regions have had,'' McLean said.
''Our first game is usually about finding our feet and then, hopefully, against North Harbour next weekend, we'll be able to have that as a good target match for us.''
One area where the Storm will be hope to assert some dominance will be in the midfield where the team is looking almost as dangerous as a worm farm and certainly more threatening than a mini golf course.
McLean will be joined in the middle of the park by national development squad member Tessa Jopp and the captain Sophie Wickens. Polly Inglis is another talent who could have an impact.
''It is good to have a good solid midfield, because they are involved in both the attack and defence.
''We can try to shut down other teams through the middle and I think that will help us with our games.''
McLean's younger sister, Neve, joins the squad this season.
The sisters hail from a small rural community near Hamilton. The primary school McLean attended did not have a hockey team until her mother Catherine, who played age group hockey for Otago in the mid-1980s, volunteered to coach.
Rzepecky felt his side made ''really good progress'' last year but a place in the top four was not really in the team's sights.
''To be honest, it probably is a stretch, but if we make top four then we are probably going to be out of our depth a little bit,'' he said.
''But in saying that, anything can happen in a tournament if you prepare well.
''If we can beat Harbour, then that would give us some impetus going into tournament week.''
Southern Storm draw
August 29: v Canterbury, Christchurch
September 6: v North Harbour, Dunedin
September 12: v Capital, Whangarei
September 13: v Northland, Whangarei
September 14: v Midlands, Whangarei
September 16: v Central, Whangarei
September 17: v Auckland, Whangarei
September 19: Semifinals, Whangarei
September 20: Finals, Whangarei
Squad: Alex Irwin, Courtney Ross, Dayna Holland, Emma Spratt, Ginny Wilson, Kelly Nicholson, Leah Butt, Lucy Harris, Maddi McLean, Millie Cowan, Polly Inglis, Tessa Jopp, Tori Vao, Sophie Wickens, Annemieke van Vliet, Sarah Walcott, Michelle Prendiville, Neve McLean.
