The 20-year-old Otago University student hails from Wanganui and is in her third season with the Storm.
She is a member of the New Zealand under-21 extended squad and hopes to be named in the final squad later this year.
A strong campaign for the Storm would help her prospects.
The perennial struggler snapped a four-year losing streak last season with a 3-2 win against Capital in Wellington.
Despite the rare positive result the team was unable to avoid finishing last for the seventh time in eight years.
"Realistically, I'd be hoping we can make the playoff for fifth and sixth," Symes said.
"That's what we are aiming for.
"We've got a couple of key games we want to target which will put us in the playoffs."
The Storm opens its National Hockey League campaign against Canterbury in Timaru on Saturday and backs up the following day with a match against Capital in Dunedin.
The game against Capital shapes as the best chance of an early victory but Symes believes Canterbury is also beatable.
"Last year, we came pretty close to beating them, so they are definitely a team we can target."
Symes got her start as an 8-year-old and honed her craft playing for Wanganui Collegiate before relocating to Dunedin to attend university.
She started out in the midfield but enjoys pushing forward and plays as a striker for Southern.
She also plays sevens rugby for Otago but hockey is her priority.
"I definitely want to make it to the Black Sticks. That would be my ultimate goal."
Southern coach Sam Brown also has modest expectations for the Storm this season.
"Pip has hit the nail on the head. We are looking to make that fifth-sixth playoff. That would be up the ladder from previous results.
"But we are also fielding one of the strongest sides I've seen in my time. We've dipped into the draft more than Southern traditionally would.
"We've picked up Belinda Smith, who is a New Zealand development squad member from Auckland. She will be a big asset for us in defence."
Sofie McLeod, from Tasmania, will strengthen the midfield and goalkeeper Liz Gifford is in the New Zealand development squad.
Defending champion Auckland will be bolstered by the return of Black Sticks Katie Glynn and Sam Harrison and, with former Black Sticks Jan Rowsell and Honor Carter also in the side, Auckland shapes as the team to beat.
Midlands looks strong with drag-flick exponent Clarissa Eshuis and North Harbour is a talented unit.
