Cooke Hockey Complex calling for St Pat's as women's Premier League Hockey season draws near

The team have still been busy keeping up their fitness training in small groups but the opportunity to get the sticks back in hand will be welcomed by the blue and white.

The excitement is building slowly with less than a month to go until the start of the shortened season, and coach Ben Weal said the side are tracking well on a fitness level.

"We've just been out on the ovals over the last couple of weeks, but kept down to groups of nine plus myself. I've had some help from another guy who's done some fitness stuff with the girls over the last few years, Jim Muldoon, and he's been great," he said.

"We're now able to do fitness training in a bigger group and we'll be back on the fields this Thursday. Current restrictions limit us to 10 people per quarter of the field so we'll so how that challenge works for us.

"Hopefully things keep travelling the way that they are and we'll soon be able to get out there and play."

Pat's did get some limited time on Cooke Hockey Complex before coronavirus restrictions hit but that feels like an eternity ago to Weal and his team.

"Some of them will be pretty keen, but maybe a little nervous as well given how long it's been since they've had a stick in hand," he said.

"We only got in two stick sessions because we couldn't have them any more so I feel everyone will be a little rusty, almost like it's the first session of the year again."

Weal's given limited thought to tactics and team composition at this stage.

He's been encouraged by the development on the fitness side of things, and said that remains a focus over the coming weeks.

"It's just a matter of getting everyone there and seeing how we go. After that I'll start thinking more about who is going to be playing where," he said.

"I've got a rough idea of that but until we get a bit closer I won't be looking too hard at that. For the moment it's just about getting that touch back and getting fit.

"It's a shortened year so you've really got to be ready to go in all aspects."

But given the COVID-19 situation just a few months ago, the team are happy to just to be playing in 2020.

Weal said the enthusiasm levels in the playing group haven't wavered.

"It's good to get something in. There's been talks about whether it's worth it - not from the girls but from others - and I think it is, as long as everyone's keen," he said.

Pat's were denied a place in last year's grand final by eventual champions Lithgow Panthers, who beat the Saints in a heartbreaking 4-3 result at Bathurst.