GAME ON: Orange and Baulkham Hills players pose before last year's HeartKids City v Country Challenge match.
LAST year Orange found the going tough against Baulkham Hills in the HeartKids Netball Cup.
Second time around, Orange captain Mardi Aplin expects her team can push the Sydney-based side.
The second HeartKids Cup will be played this weekend at the Orange PCYC.
While five teams will compete for the HeartKids Cup, Orange and Baulkham Hills will also battle out the City v Country Challenge.
In last year’s clash Baulkham Hills came out on top 61-34.
Since then Baulkham Hills have had some personnel changes.
On top of that, Aplin played State League with the Baulkham Hills side last year.
“We were beaten by Baulkham Hills last year but we learnt a lot. We’re hoping to be closer this year if not beat them,” Aplin said.
“I know a bit more about them this time and I’m going to use that to our advantage.”
Orange will field its top State League side which claimed a 17th consecutive Central West division one title last year.
The only change is young High A shooter Katie Eslick has been added to the side.
“Katie is a fantastic little netballer but she needs some more mongrel in her,” Aplin said.
“This is great experience for the young girls to play Canberra and Sydney sides and learn a lot from them.”
Also competing in this year’s HeartKids Cup are two Canberra sides and the NSW Men’s 23 years and under side.
The top Canberra side took out their version of the state league title in 2012.
“I really hope we’re competitive with the Canberra sides,” Aplin said.
“Apparently they’ve got a tall shooter who was a bench player for the Fever and the Thunderbirds. That’s Jasmine Keene.”
Aplin admitted the men’s side, which includes Orange’s Michael Rudd, are an unknown.
Teams are playing for more than a trophy, with the Robin Hood Hotel putting up $1000 for the winning side.
The tournament is a fundraiser for HeartKids, an organisation which helps the families of children with heart disease.
Things will kick off at 3.30pm on Saturday at the Orange PCYC and the first games will be played at 4.20pm.
There will be raffles and lucky door prizes and entry is $5.
Games will be played at 4.20pm and 5.40pm on Saturday, as well as 9am, 10.40am and 12.20pm on Sunday.
ORANGE: Sinead Bradley, Mardi Aplin, Erin Taylor, Katie Eslick, Charlotte Jasprizza, Kellie Watson, Tegan Dray, Amanda Rouse, Sheryll Selwood, Emily Winterton.
