Cavaliers opens player Dana Lester will represent the state for the eighth time, this year as an overage player in the state 19 and under team, having been picked several times previously in 17s and 19s and 21s teams for previous national championships.

“It is always a privilege to represent your state and we have as lot of experience in our team with only one player who hasn’t been to a national tournament before which hopefully will play in our favour once we get there,” Lester said.

“We’ve had a bit of a disjointed preparation lead-up with both Alex Vinen and Emma Johns being in the Tassie Magpies ANL team so we haven’t had them for the majority of our training sessions.

“But we had them back last weekend so hopefully their experience from playing ANL will be pretty crucial and they will fit in really well – our aim is to make the top four and we’re determined on that goal this year.”

Lester will be joined by opens teammate Jamie Easther for her second time as a state 19s representative having joined Cavaliers this season from the Northern Hawks.

Three of the club’s 17 and under players in Piper Sanders, Nadia Donnelly and Courtney Treloar have been picked in the state 17s, with Donnelly and Treloar having previously been under-15 state representatives.

Cavaliers opens coach Dannie Carstens said the club has always had great representation at state level. “I think you can really put it down to the strong culture of excellence that has been pushed right from the establishment of the club,” she said.

“Natasha Chokljat was a Cavs 19s and opens player who made the transition to Victorian state league and to the Diamonds and more recently Kelsey Rainbow has just made the 21 and under national side going to Botswana in July.

“Shelby Miller is another examplle of one of the Cavs players who have moved along the elite pathway as a regular starting member of the Tassie Magpies in the ANL.

“These five girls have the same opportunity to follow in their footsteps.”

Carstens said Cavaliers aimed to help players in their individual and team development.

“Not only to make representative sides but to grow in their skills as a person and player on and off the court.

“This has been made possible by really hard-working committees off the court and committed, organised and knowledgable coaches and a great junior development program helping skilled athletes move along the elite pathway.”

The five Cavaliers netballers leave on Monday for the national 17s and 19s championships being held in Canberra from Wednesday to the following Tuesday.

Andrew Jackson will coach the state 19 side and Shane Fish the state 17s.