Luke Stevens hopes Wagga City Wanderers can finish the year strongly before he makes move to Canberra next year

Stevens has been one of the shining lights in an otherwise difficult year for the Wanderers, who sit on the bottom of the NPL Two ladder with two wins from their opening 12 games.

The Wanderers host Canberra White Eagles at Gissing Oval on Saturday, a team that Wagga upset early in the season to register their opening win.

Stevens believes that result gives them confidence heading into Saturday's return bout.

"I think it's important that we go in with confidence. Last time we got a win against them and I definitely don't think it is out of reach to beat them again," Stevens said.

"I think we've just got to be confident and go out there and play as well as we possibly can to give ourselves the best chance possible."

Stevens believes a 'nothing to lose' attitude could make the Wanderers a dangerous prospect for opposition teams late in the year.

"I think we've been trying a lot of different things in order to get the results that we want to get. It hasn't quite happened for us but I think on a week to week basis we've been improving," he said.

"I think the last couple of weeks we've slipped off again but there's nothing to say for the last half of the season that we can't put in some good performances and get some good results.

"I think it's all about going out there knowing we've got nothing to lose, it allows players to play with a bit more freedom and confidence. Hopefully with that in mind it will allow us to challenge teams, and especially going forward, try new things and hopefully they work. Hopefully we can pick up some results from that."

Stevens, 18, will move to Canberra for university next year. It means this is his last year, for a while at least, for the Wanderers.

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The attacking midfielder actually travelled to Canberra on Wednesday night and trained with NPL One club Tuggeranong United, where he will most likely play next year.

"I was actually over there (Wednesday) night and had a training run with Tuggeranong United," Stevens revealed.

"It was really good. From what I saw (Wednesday) night, the quality is exceptional, and the professionalism, and I can tell it would be a great club to play for. If all goes well, I'll be there next year."

Stevens hopes to continue to develop in Canberra.

"Talking to the coach, he's got a great vision for the future and they're very heavily dependent on the youth aspect of the club and I think it's a great opportunity for a young player that I still am to go over there and find my feet and hopefully be there for a few years," he said.

"At a club like that you've got to perform week in, week out. That will help improve my game and my development will hopefully sky rocket as a result.

"I'm definitely not where I think I can get to and still have a lot of improvement left in me."

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