ANNIE Miller and Kobe Mansell know they can count on one thing when they take to the court at the Basketball Australia Under-16 National Championship in Victoria this July - don’t expect an easy time of it against the hosts.

The pair of 15-year-olds will received their maiden NSW Country singlets after catching the eye of selectors throughout a series of gruelling trial camps.

And both were unanimous when asked what was going to be the toughest part of the first national championship.

“The Vics,” Miller and Mansell said simultaneously. 

“They took out both 18s (in April) and they’re fairly strong across the board,” Mansell added.

“I think work ethic (can lift our team) and getting that effort level up.”

Finishing third last year, Victoria Metro have won all bar two of the Norma Connolly trophies as winners of the under-16 girls’ championship on offer since 2000, while, in the same period of time, Victoria Metro have claimed nine titles of the boys’ equivalent, the Robert Young Shield.

Queensland North took out last year’s boys’ title while Queensland South claimed the girls’ crown.

Mansell, however, says his NSW Country side has what it takes to compete with the national championship goliaths.

“I reckon we’ll be strong. We’ve got plenty of height and we’re quick, we work well as a team,” the young guard said.

Miller was named as one of NSW Country under-16 girls’ sides guards, a hotly contested position the Orange Eagles gun wasn’t sure she’d be good enough to crack it in.

“I thought I did enough but I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it because there’s a lot of good players in my position,” she said.

“I was lucky enough to get in - I think I just worked hard enough to get there.”

With Western Junior League and Country Premier League experience under their belts, both were confident of being able to handle the step up in competition at the national championships.

The 2016 under-16s national championships are in Kilsyth, Victoria from July 2-9