Competing in the series for the first time, Newcastle are in Pool B and will meet Sydney, the University of Technology (UTS) and Canberra in the first of two regional qualifiers. The second will be held at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground on April 10-11.

"We have been building different combinations and learning how each other plays,"said Goldsmith, who played for New England University in the series in 2018 and 2019. "Every tournament we are getting better. There are lots of new, young faces, which is great. We have a little weapon in Maddie McArthur, who is going to do good things for us this season. She has only just turned 17, is a strong ball carrier and is bloody quick."

As well as McArthur, Jesse Southwell, Kayla Waldron and Kaitlan Leaney are still teenagers.

Newcastle finalised preparations with a win a tournament hosted by Canberra University last weekend.

In the pool games, they went down to the hosts 21-17 and UTS 46-7 and beat Melbourne 17-12. However with UTS only playing Saturday, they progressed to the semi-final, where they beat Melbourne 22-5, before accounting for Canberra 24-0 in the decider.

"We have a good bunch of girls and there was a great vibe on the weekend, which is good for a new team," Goldsmith said.

Before Canberra, Newcastle won the Lake Macquarie sevens and have played several trials against Sydney, UTS and Canberra.

"UTS are very strong and still have Maya Stewart to come in there," Goldsmith said. "She has lots of Wallaroos commitments but is in their squad. UTS are very quick and very fit and we have a bit of work to do if we want to compete with them but it is definitely possible.

"Sydney Uni still have a lot of their Wallaroos, like Grace Hamilton, to come back in. We haven't really played a strong Sydney Uni team yet. We will certainly git it our best shot."

Apart from Goldsmith, who represneted NSW in sevens for three years, Newcastle boast the power of Ashleigh Walker, Zara Lee, Tamsin Barber and Trudi Peterson and have pace outwide in Anika Butler and Sharni Waters.

They will also be boosted this weeks by two Australian sevens players who will be drafted into the squad.

Newcastle will launch their season with a breakfast at the Duke of Wellington Hotel on Wednesday from 7.15am. Tickets cost $60 and are available from Tony Munro (0407 295 250).

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