Roslyn-Wakari goalkeeper Caitlyn Fitchett was selected this week in the New Zealand under-17 squad and will look to back that up with a good performance in tomorrow's premier women's league decider against Northern.
This keenly awaited clash is the main game at the Caledonian Ground at 1pm and should attract a big crowd as two even teams battle for supremacy.
Another incentive is the restarting of New Zealand Football's national women's league in November, which gives players a target at which to aim.
As yet, Footballsouth has not appointed a women's coach for the national league, but both Northern's Steve Brook and Roslyn's Marcus Glover believe an early appointment would be beneficial.
Footballsouth said several candidates were being considered.
"I believe Mainland's women have already been training for a while, so the sooner a coach is appointed and the squad is assembled, the better it will be," Brook said.
However, both coaches' immediate priority is tomorrow's premier final, in which Roslyn has a slight edge, in that it needs only a draw to clinch the trophy.
Glover said Fitchett's national selection was a boost, and he believed winger Georgia Brown must have come close to making the team.
"We have had a fantastic season. Keeping the ball on the deck has paid off, and our pace on the wings has been a match-winning feature," Glover said.
Roslyn's top scorer is Una Madden, with 21 goals, closely followed by Sam Muirhead (17), while the addition this season of Amber Mulhall-Larsens has stiffened the defence.
Both Northern and Roslyn have lost only one league game this season and are even on points, with Roslyn's better goal difference a critical factor.
"Roslyn only needs a draw, but if we play to our potential we can achieve the win we need," Brook said.
"We have no stars, but we have a talented, hard-working squad of 16 which has to compete for starting places. They are now capable of passing well and interchanging positions while keeping a stable team shape."
The senior men's end-of-season competition continues with 2.45pm kick-offs today between Northern and Roslyn at the Gardens, Mosgiel and Dunedin Technical at Memorial Park, and Grants Braes and University at Ocean Grove.
