Three Glen Innes netballers are set to take on the regional NSW's best when they make their way to Orange for the Academy Challenge.
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Bridgette Beattie, Maddi Cooke and Sophie McCormick are part of the Northern Inland Academy of Sport squad who will take part in the Challenge.
The Challenge sees around 300 athletes from the nine regional academies in the state, gather in the one spot for three days of competition.
The squads are then mixed up and the players are thrown together with members of other academies to compete for the weekend.
The players and coaches are also mentored the sport's best over the course of the competition.
NIAS netball assistant coach Julie Fuller said being thrown together with different players is a challenge but it helps them build skills for when they are presented with further opportunities in the sport.
The girls have to step up, and they do step up which is really good.
- Julie Fuller
"The girls have to step up, and they do step up which is really good," she said.
"They actually get talent [identified] at the same place.
"They are running around checking you out and seeing how you step up.
"It is a really good chance for the regional kids to get looked at."
After the Academy Challenge, the netball season doesn't ease up with more representative competitions and opportunities on the horizon.
The Netball NSW Regional State Cup is set down for October 12 and 13 in Sydney.
The following weekend on October 20 will see trials for the 2020 NIAS netball program held in Armidale.
Information on how to apply for the program can be found at nias.org.au.
October 19 and 20 will also see a masters competition conducted in Tamworth with Glen Innes planning to send an over-35s and over-40s team to the tournament.
Following that, there will be trials for NSW under-17 and under-19 squads in Coffs Harbour.