PROMISING striker Josh Gardner and central defender Adam Sherratt will head overseas for the first time in April.

They will be part of the Emerging Jets team who will represent New South Wales and essentially Australia at the under 14 Tokyo International Youth Football Tournament.

Both youngsters are not foreign to the representative scene having been a part of the Football Mid North Coast set up for many years.

Twice a week both Sherratt and Gardner are picked up from school before they head straight to Newcastle to train with the Emerging Jets team before returning to Port Macquarie later that night.

Adam's father, Andy, said that sort of dedication had been integral to the boys' success.

"They go to training twice a week down in Newcastle, I pick them up from school and we head straight down there," he said.

"It's a late night, they've still got to do the school work and then soccer but they're willing to do it. As long as they've got that drive and willingness there I'll do it for them.

"You've got to give them a chance."

Both players have played together from club level all the way through their careers to date with the parents clocking up the kilometres on the car.

"It's not just Newcastle every week, then they've got to go to Sydney the following week to play the Western Sydney Wanderers and I'm proud as punch of them," Mr Sherratt said.

"That's just what you do for your kids, isn't it?"

Teams including those from Brazil, Argentina, Egypt and Japan will contest the tournament with the host nation expected to be difficult to beat.

Mr Sherratt said the overseas trip was a good opportunity for both Adam and Josh to "stand on their own two feet."

"They encourage the parents not to go to the tournament so the kids have got to think for themselves because it's not mum and dad looking after them all the time," he said.

"These are the only two kids who aren't taking parents. All the kids down there are taking grandparents or parents but it's better for them because they're nearly 14 now, they're not little babies anymore.

"I would have loved to have gone, but it's for them. I'll watch the DVD's when they get home."

The quietly-spoken youngsters were apprehensive, but looking forward to their first time out of the country.

"It's a good chance to get away from mum and dad so I'm a bit excited, but a bit nervous too," Adam said.

The team departs on April 29 for the six-day tournament.