AS part of the Central West Rugby Union women’s side, eight Orange Emus will be gunning for Corellas selection at today’s NSW Country Women’s Rugby Championship in Newcastle.

The NSW Country side, coached by former Bathurst Bulldogs and Blue Bulls coach Mick Burgess, will be named at the conclusion of the championships at Newcastle’s Passmore Oval, where Central West will clash with Hunter (10.30am) and the Chairman’s XV (12.30pm) - the winner of the championship is decided by wins, and bonus points.

Central West outside back Liv Patterson said her fellow Emus in Grace Frankham, Amber Willard, Charmaine Buckley, Brooke Martin, Jess Scadding, Nikki D’Aquino and Stacey Howarth are all a realistic chance of gaining selection, if their team performs.

“If we perform as a side and do well everyone is a chance,” Patterson, an Australian Universities rugby sevens representative, said.

“Personally it would be incredible, and an amazing opportunity but I’m still learning the 15-a-side form of the game. I haven’t played since last year’s (Blowes Clothing Cup women’s) grand final so there’s a few nerves there.

“All in all I’m not too worried about anything except doing my job and hopefully helping the side get a couple of wins.”

Today’s championship marks Patterson’s first foray into representative 15-a-side rugby, and the 22-year-old said she isn’t quite sure what to expect, although her experience in sevens gives her some confidence.

“The girls that have played before said we should expect very physical battles,” Patterson said.

“Obviously there’s a lot more contact and structure than in sevens, there’s not as much space and it’s a lot slower than sevens.

“We have plenty of pace in our side. Our forwards need to lay a good platform for us to use that pace, and not let the other sides get that space at the same time.”

CENTRAL WEST: Grace Frankham, Nikki D’aquino, Amber Willard, Olivia Patterson, Charmaine Buckley , Brooke Martin, Jess Scadding, Stacey Howarth (Orange Emus), Kimberley Fyfe, Te Aniwaniwa Gotty-Ogden, Martina Prautzsch, Natasha Watts-Tehiko, Litisha Boney , Danielle Leach (Dubbo Rhinos), Inga Visser Skipper Michelle Numro, Krystal Fyfe , Sheree Logan, Betty Doolan, Tarcia Skinner, Nicky Miller (Cowra Eagles), Selina Hal (CSU Bathurst).