Kath McGilbert, in her third year as coach, knows her team has the ability to do so.
"We were close last year and missed the finals by just one point," she said yesterday.
"This year, our goal is to be in the top three teams and make the finals weekend. I believe we have got the goods in the team to do it."
Southern Pride has never made the finals and to achieve the target it must topple one of the three top teams from last year.
Hutt Valley, a softball stronghold, has won the national final for the past three years and is the favourite again.
The other finalists last year were Auckland and Canterbury.
Southern Pride does not have players with the skills to match two of the "giants" - Ali Manley (White Sox pitcher) and Ngahuia Kapene - of the Hutt Valley team.
This weekend, round-robin games in Christchurch will give an indication of the strength of the Southern Pride team.
The other round-robin weekend is at Wellington on January 31 and February 1.
The teams that will be competing this year are Hutt Valley, Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington and Southern Pride.
Provinces in the Southern Pride franchise are Otago, Southland, Marlborough and Nelson.
One of the key draft players in the Southern Pride team is White Sox pitcher Megan Farrell (Auckland).
The back-up pitcher is Shannon Downing (Canterbury), who recently returned to Christchurch after a spell living in Australia.
She joins Kate Brewerton (Otago) as the new players in the national league.
One player expected to play a significant role for Southern Pride is Betsy Bishop (Wellington), an experienced infielder.
Southern Pride was fortunate to recruit the experienced Te Awhina Hewer (Canterbury), who has returned to the sport after having a baby.
Mereana Joseph (Auckland), a catcher, joins Southern Pride after a long career for Auckland.
A promising infielder is Alice Telfer (Southland), a sister of Wendy Telfer, who is in the Southern Steel netball team.
The other Otago player in the team is Natalie Smith, who has retained her place after making her debut last summer.
"We have been a development team over the last three years but can't use inexperience as an excuse any longer," McGilbert said.
"We have experienced players in the squad and our girls must step up and stamp their mark on the competition."
Southern Pride squad: Megan Farrell (Auckland), Shannon Downing (Canterbury), Betsy Bishop (Wellington), Kate Brewerton (Otago), Natalie Smith (Otago), Te Awhina Hewer (Canterbury), Mereana Joseph (Auckland), Ranui Robertson (Southland), Anthea Stringer (Marlborough), Angela-Maria Taylor (Southland), Alice Telfer (Southland), Samara Tulloch (Marlborough), Jenna Woepse (Auckland).
Kath McGilbert (coach).
