Wagga Futsal president Sam Gray said the collection of youngsters had already improved leaps and bounds since their showing at September’s state championships and believes they are ready for the national stage.

“Since coming back they’ve been able to do so much more with the ball and control it much better as well,” he said.

“The limited space and high speed of competition has really helped them along.”

Gray said he’d been pitting younger players against their older counterparts in a bid to prepare them for the increased physicality of top-level competition.

“It will still be a bit of shock for them but I’m confident they’ll be able to adjust,” he said.

Gray also credited all players and parents with their enthusiasm for training during the Christmas-New Year period.