The Riverina squad is hopeful home pool advantage will pay off when Wagga hosts the NSW Combined High Schools Sports Association's Secondary Girls Water Polo Championships next week.
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With the event held on a rotating basic across each association, Riverina will host the event for the first time in a decade at Oasis Aquatic Centre.
Four Wagga products - Meg Mundy, Bridie Sheridan, Zelda Nugent and Ebony Lewis - are part of the 12-player squad alongside eight players from Albury.
"I definitely think it helps (being at home), and playing in a familiar pool and environment will be to our advantage," coach Samantha O'Connell said.
"Hopefully that helps, not travelling and staying in hotels."
Riverina faces a tough draw on the opening day on Monday, with three matches against metropolitan teams.
"This is the first time I've coached but I know Sydney East has won it quite a few times in the past," O'Connell said.
"All those metro teams are tough because they have more opportunity to play more top level water polo than the girls from the country.
"They'll definitely learn from it and I think they enjoy playing different people outside of their competition, and playing that higher quality water polo."
O'Connell said the Wagga and Albury contingent's familiarity with each other's games is a big bonus.
"The Albury crew are only from a couple of clubs, and the Wagga girls have played with and against each other," she said.
"We'll have some background on how each other plays and we've had a few training sessions.
"Once you get along outside the pool, you're going to play better in the water."
The carnival will conclude with finals on Thursday.
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