"We beat them last year and I don't see any reason why we can't be a good chance to beat them again."
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Bathurst Bulldogs skipper Mel Waterford pulled no punches ahead of this weekend's Chikarovski Cup, with her NSW Country outfit gunning to take down their two metropolitan rivals at Narrabeen.
Waterford is one nine Blue Bulls in the squad, with Central West dominating the NSW Country ranks after storming to a country championship triumph at Tamworth earlier this year.
She's joined by Orange Emus' ACT Brumbies in Jacky Lyden and Em McDonald along with the greens' 2019 breakout star Milika Tuinakauvadra, while Kim and Krystal Fyfe, LillyAnn Mason-Spice, Alanah Ryan and Kenesha Stevens have also been named.
"It's great that we've carried a few of our Central West combinations into the Country team. Obviously it comes off a really successful country championship campaign," Waterford said.
"For a lot of them it's their first time in or they haven't been in for the while. It's a newer team but it's got a really good feel about it. They're keen to get in there and have a go.
"Some of them aren't as experienced in 15s but you wouldn't be able to tell from the training camp we had two weeks ago.
"The coaches were really organised. They had some exciting structures and combinations going so hopefully we can bring it together on the day and challenge the Sydney teams."
That two-day camp was an encouraging one, with NSW Country retaining much of their experienced core from 2018's campaign, a key difference in this year's is Sydney fielding two sides rather than one.
"It gives more of the Sydney girls a go. Last year we actually had a few of the Sydney girls zoned into our region," she said.
"This time they're in their own two zones and that's given more country girls the chance to come and play."
The Chikarovski Cup serves as a pathway towards Buildcorp Super W selection and a genuine one at that, considering the likes of Lyden and McDonald won contracts last year.
NSW Country play Sydney Blue in the opening match on Saturday from 1pm at the Sydney Academy of Sport. Country play Sydney Gold from 11am the following morning while the metropolitan derby is Monday from 11am.
Central West products have been named in the Sydney squads too with Darcie Morrison picked in the Gold squad and Jakiya Whitfield in the Blue.
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