The national Women's Youth League kicks off today with Footballsouth playing Capital (Wellington) at Tahuna Park at 1pm.
The league has switched to a youth-based format for the next three seasons as New Zealand Football moves to consolidate the growth in women's football and increase the depth of its talent pool.
Home team coach Darren Rewi said his side had been picked with experience in mind.
"We needed to put enough players on the pitch with experience at this level to ensure we don't become unstuck.
He also pointed to putting pressure on the side from the capital and having a solid defence.
"If we can put pressure on them all over the park included as high as possible it will create opportunities for us. Last year their defence was slow and so we need to get behind them and put pressure on them.
"We have good fast defenders and this will be crucial as they look to break us down and get behind us. We have picked defenders that can play out and create opportunities for us."
Rewi had confidence in his substitutes.
"We have players that can create an impact off the bench and as its our first game, when the starters tire we will bring the subs on.
"So for everyone it requires a 100% effort until you can run no longer and then we will bring players on that will maintain the pace and pressure."
The side will play five more games in the next month, with games also against Central and Mainland, home and away.
FOOTBALLSOUTH WOMEN
- Starting squad
Tess Nichol, Georgia Brown, Amber Mulhill-Larsen, Annie Gilchrist, Kelsey Kennard, Shontelle Smith, Kushla Glover, Mary Fraser, Jordyn Walker, Sam Muirhead, Sahara Macdonald.
Reserves: Amelia Currier, Charley Kerry, Ana Keelty, Chelsea Whittaker, Samantha Sewpersad.
