The Illawarra-dominated Australian women's indoor hockey squad will have its first training camp in Wollongong this weekend.
Keira High School teacher Melissa Simpson was named captain of the Australian team selected in January and is joined by the Illawarra's Bronwyn Poulton, Lyndal Ogilvie and Emma Cobbin in the squad.
"It shows how strong the sport is here in Wollongong and the girls are really looking forward to the camp," Simpson said.
"We are doing fitness testing on Friday at Keira High before getting down to some hockey sessions at Unanderra on Saturday."
Simpson takes over the captaincy from fellow Wollongong indoor hockey star Gaye Tarrant. She is the only survivor from last year's World Cup team with coach Mark Sandhu looking to build a younger side towards the next World Cup in 2011.
The team will travel to a four-Nations tournament in England and Scotland in December.
"This is the start of preparations for the next World Cup and the girls will start to build the combinations we need for the tour in December on the weekend," Simpson said.
"It will be an important camp for all us to get used to playing with each other."
Australian indoor squad: Lyndal Ogilvie (NSW), Madelyn Braun (WA), Bronwyn Poulton (NSW), Rebecca Coulson (Vic), Louise Mauran (NSW), Erica Trahar (Vic), Emma Cobbin (NSW), Pip Sanders (NSW), Nicola Farrow (WA), Claire Messent (Vic), Danita Eastman (Vic), Mel Simpson (NSW, c).