Hockey: Mariah Williams lines up for Souths in grand final replay ahead of second Olympic bid

The former Hunter Sports High School student was supposed to be in Tokyo representating the Hockeyroos at a second Olympics.

She remains hopeful, but unsure amid the global coronavirus pandemic, that the postponed Games will go ahead in Japan at this time next year.

"It's crazy to think we should be at the Olympics right now," Williams told the Newcastle Herald.

"I think back 12 months ago and we were all together, talking about ramping it up because there was one year left until the Games.

"We've been away from each other for the last four or five months and won't regroup fully until November at the earliest. So it will be full on after that and that's if it goes ahead. But you've just got to think it's 100 percent on to take away any doubt in your mind otherwise you don't get what you need out of training."

Williams, who has been living with her parents in Teralba since March and more recently training at NSWIS, returns to Perth on Sunday and will rejoin the national women's squad next month.

The main aim at the moment is a Hockeyroos camp planned for later in the year which will go towards Olympic selection.

"I definitely considered staying here, but it will be easier to prepare over there," she said.

Williams, who last played for Souths in 2016, is set to feature in a grand final replay with the Lions against two-time defending premiers Oxfords at Newcastle International Hockey Centre.

"It should be a good game," she said. "There's a fair few new girls in the side but there's still some there I know like Madi Webster, Kaitlin Duck and the Abells."

Play gets underway at 1:45pm.

Elsewhere in the Newcastle District Women's Hockey Association premier league and University meet Tigers (12:30pm) and Reglas clash with Central (3pm). Gosford has the bye.

NDWHA issued a statement during the week "strongly discouraging" Sydney-based players from participating in matches.

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