Last year Bathurst were one of three sides relegated from the top division and they have pulled out all stops to ensure their stay in division two is as short as possible.

Since selecting their side early in the year, the under 18s have prepared under the watchful eye of coach Sue Watterson.

She says the goal this weekend is clear, though it won’t be easy.

“With the amalgamations of some of the districts, it has made things a lot tougher and there are basically four ‘super-districts’ in Sydney,” Watterson said.

“That had a bit of an impact on us getting bumped down to second division last year.

“We’ve got a number of girls who haven’t played district representative hockey for a few years coming back into the side for this tournament to try and help us get back up in the top competition.

“Basically, that is our sole aim. It is tough, though.

“As well as the sides who have gone down who obviously want to go back up, there are all the existing second division teams who are desperate to climb as well so it won’t be easy.”

Bathurst have been grouped with North West Sydney 1, Hockey New England 1, Far North Coast and Sydney South for their campaign, which kicks off this morning against Far North Coast.

The squad is a strong one and of the 14 players only youngsters Natalie Davis, Emily Hurst and Jade Weekes have not yet made their debut in Premier League.

The likes of Maddie Tattersall, Ivy Moore and Kate Hamer are not quite veterans in the top regional competition but have been embedded in their Premier League sides for several seasons.

Watterson will be looking to those sort of players to lead the way for the rest of the squad.

“There is a good older contingent of top-age players there. There are a number who have been in Premier League for years and also plenty that have been blooded at that level over the last 12 months or so,” she said.

“The players in this group have all played with and against each other for a long, long time and they have come together really well. They know each other’s games inside out.

“For me too, it is been a pleasure to coach them. A lot of them have older sisters who I coached a lot when my own girls were in these age groups so there is a nice connection there.”

There will also be a nice family element to the coaching side of things, with Sue’s daughters Sarah and Jess Watterson having served as technical and skills coaches for the squad.

“Sarah has been doing the mid-week stuff with the girls on their skills. She’s a florist, though, so unfortunately so she will be working this Sunday for Mother’s Day,”  Watterson explained.

“Jess is going to be helping us in Sydney this weekend which is great. She’s played with and coached a lot of these girls herself already. They’ve all played, coached and socialised together so the atmosphere will be nice.

“Bathurst always has a good time off the field, hopefully we’ll do pretty well on it as well.”