PACK your winter woolies because there is a good chance it's going to be freezing.
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Port Macquarie-Hastings Hockey Association teenage duo Lillianah Williams and Emersyn Smith could do worse than listen to that advice.
The pair will head to Tasmania next week with the NSW Stars for the under-13 boys' and girls' Australian hockey carnival at Hobart.
Smith has experienced how cold it can get on the southern side of Bass Strait - she was there in 2017 as a spectator watching dad Jarrod in action.
On that occasion, players had to scrape the ice off the sidelines before the first match of the day.
Their selection in the side will be the first time they have been selected at that level and instead of being nervous about it all, Williams is feeling nothing but excitement.
"I'm pretty keen; I'm not nervous, I don't get nervous. I get excited more so than anything," she said.
"I'm just excited to play and have fun."
Over the seven-day tournament, each side will play up to 12 matches before they even hit the finals.
"We've never played that much hockey in a row without a break, so it will be interesting," Williams said.
"Of a Saturday you usually play five or six games, but playing two every day is going to be a bit exhausting, but you've got to get used to it."
The Manning product said her ability to play as a "team player" was one of the key indicators to her selection in the team.
While Smith and Williams play together in Port Macquarie, they admit they rarely train together.
But Smith admitted knowing she had a familiar face in the team would make the trip away less stressful.
"To be picked together does make it easier, but we don't do too much training between ourselves ... we do our own thing," she said.
The teenager will also play her first tournament as an under-13 national representative.
"I'm looking forward to the first time, it's going to be a really good experience for everything like making new friends around the state," she said.
"Hopefully we'll win a few games along the way."
President Simon Thresher said the hard work and dedication had paid off for the girls.
"Not only are they representing their state, but they are also representing their association, club and teams," he said.
"The selection in the NSW team is testament to the hard work their coaches and wider association have put in to these players to achieve this selection."
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