The Grainger duo will represent Port Macquarie and Port Macquarie High School in the Lower North Coast team at the North Coast zone trials

17-year-old Shelby is on the comeback trail after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee last year.

That prevented her from joining 16-year-old sister Lani in the same team.

“Lani has made the north coast zone team before, but I did my ACL last year so this is my first year back in sport,” Shelby said.

“Lani made the North Coast team last year so she’s had a bit of experience at that level.”

Grainger said they originally put together a school team with a few of their friends that were interested in having a run around.

“They were interested in playing so we could get to that level where we played against other local teams,” she said.

“We played teams from Kempsey, Wauchope, Nambucca, Macksville and everywhere in between and then we had trials last Wednesday for the Lower North Coast team.”

Strong performances at Tuffins Lane in the selection trials could see them progress to the next level.

“Hopefully we’ll be selected in the North Coast zone team and after that we go on to play in the NSW Combined High Schools team,” Grainger said.

“We’ll be representing Port Macquarie and Port High, but we’re the only two girls from Port in the team.

“There are a few girls from Wauchope in there too.”

Lani admitted the next level was “pretty good.”

“We hope to make the next level after the one on Friday, but it’ll be hard and we’re going to have to play pretty well.”