Wairarapa coach Grant Brewster has high hopes of his team making a bold statement at the Hatch Cup national Under-13 boys hockey tournament, which gets under way at Clareville on Sunday.
But at the same time he tempers his enthusiasm by noting the dangers of predicting likely results at an event in which the personnel of the 24 competing teams can change dramatically from year to year.
"You never know quite what to expect from any of your opposition. You always have to be aware that teams which finished at the bottom of the table one year could be up the top 12 months later."
An undefeated run in lead-up matches does suggest, however, Wairarapa will be one of the big improvers in 2011, having been seeded at 16 after last year's event.
Brewster and his co-coach Kerry Hare have been pleased enough with their development to set them the goal of qualifying for the quarterfinals at least, something which will only happen if they finish among the top two teams in their six-team pool.
"Once you've made the quarters anything can happen. There's only three more wins between you and the trophy then," Brewster said. "We'd love to give ourselves that chance and, yes, it is possible."
It would be no surprise if their results on the first day's play on Sunday decides Wairarapa's quarterfinal fate.
First up - starting at 11am - they take on defending champions South Canterbury and later in the day - 5.15pm - they will confront one of the perennial tournament favourites in Auckland. Brewster is optimistic the draw, tough as it is, will work in Wairarapa's favour as they will be up against potentially their toughest opposition when they were relatively fresh.
But he knows anything less than top-notch efforts will probably produce negative outcomes.
"We have to hit our straps right from the word go in both games, we can't afford to drop our standards at all."
Having 10 players back from last year's Hatch Cup side is an obvious advantage for Wairarapa in that it means most of their squad are experienced at this level of the game and Brewster and Hare have stressed to them the importance of teamwork over individualism. "Hockey is a team sport, everybody has to be working for each other," Brewster said. "We do have some very talented individuals but they won't shine without the right sort of support."
The first four days of tournament action will involve pool play with Wairarapa following Sunday's double header with matches against Thames Valley on Monday (1.30pm), Buller on Tuesday (12.45pm) and Tauranga on Wednesday (12.45pm). Cross-over matches commence on the Thursday with the final planned for 2.15pm on Saturday.
The Wairarapa team is: Rory Thomson, Alex Hare, Josh Tatham, Mitch Hooper, Wills Taylor, Will McMaster, Adam Moloney, Gus Wakeling, Matthew Furkert, Henry Phelps, Morgan Taylor, Michael Brewster, Guy Percy, Nathan Whiteman, George Robinson.