Newcastle-born Wallaroos representative Alisha Hewett had childhood memories come flooding back when she returned to Nobbys Beach this week.
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Raymond Terrace-raised Sarah Riordan has been giving out some local travel tips to her fellow national squad members.
And rugby union newcomer Sammy McArthur will run out in front of her Adamstown Heights family when debuting for the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
As the countdown to Saturday's triple header continues, featuring the women's Test match between Australia and Japan at No.2 Sportsground, ticket sales are approaching half of the 5000 capacity at the Newcastle venue.
Experienced Wallaroos forward Hewett, who grew up in Maryland until the age of 10, can see more international fixtures being played in regional areas down the track
"I think it's an excellent idea," the 33-year-old said after training with the Wallaroos at Merewether's Gibbs Brothers Oval on Thursday.
"I myself grew up in a small little country town and I didn't know what rugby union was.
"So to be able to come to a town like this and have open training sessions and have a Test match against Japan is a great opportunity to inspire the young girl on the sideline who wants to get out there and do it herself."
Twenty-seven-year-old back Riordan, who has previously played for Newcastle and Hunter clubs Wanderers, University and Merewether, endorsed the move to No.2 Sportsground as part of a four-Test program for the Wallaroos in Australia during 2019.
"It's really exciting to be back where I first started playing rugby," Riordan said.
"To bring that back with an Australian jersey is the best accomplishment you can have within your rugby career."
The Wallaroos game-day squad for Newcastle will be announced on Friday with the second Test against Japan to be played at North Sydney Oval next week (July 19).
Hewett and Riordan have both represented ADF before.
McArthur, 22 and now based in Townsville with the army, will follow in their footsteps when ADF tackle the New Zealand Defence Force as a curtain-raiser to this weekend's Test.
"You see people like Sarah and Alisha that have gone through and used army as a pathway," she said.
"It's definitely something to look up to."
She plays the same position, loose-head prop, as her father and former Hamilton Hawk Derek.
McArthur, who only picked up the sport six months ago, will be joined in the ADF side by fellow Hunter pair Renee Cross and Brooke Saunders.
Gates open at 11am. Main game kicks off at 3pm. Tickets are available online and at the gate.
