The prospect of brushing shoulders with Kyra Cooney-Cross has Canberra's Sasha Grove realising her football dream is almost within reach.
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The 15-year-old striker will join the Future Matildas for week-long training camp on Monday, following Canberra United Academy teammate Hayley Taylor-Young.
The Sydney-based program is led by Young Matildas coach Leah Blayney and aims to develop the next generation of Australia's football stars.
Grove, a Canberra Girls Grammar School student, was selected after a strong NPLW season with Academy, scoring six goals in nine games.
She had her first taste of the program when she played an 'elite match' in March, saying she's keen to develop further among the cohort.
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"One of the biggest things [I learned] was the intensity. It was so much quicker and you were thinking more on your feet, so I'm really excited to build on that," Grove said.
"Leah and her coaching team have a wealth of knowledge and experience, so it's going to be great to learn from that as well as the other girls participating. There's so much you can get out of the ACT but beyond that in NSW, there's so much more.
"From what I've read from the schedule, Cooney-Cross will be there and she's an amazing young player. I'm really excited to learn some things from her."
Blayney's squad is building towards the 2022 Youth Asian Cup, with the first round of qualifiers to take place in Shepparton and Cessnock early next year.
The chance of earning selection for the tournament is on the back of Grove's mind, with the striker keen to play a higher level of football.
She's been part of the Academy for five years and has seen the likes of Taylor-Young, Laura Hughes and Karly Roestbakken step up to the W-League - a dream she's also hoping to achieve.
"Since I was younger I was always in awe when I watched older players, I was always excited to think one day that could be me. It's getting closer but there's still a lot of work I need to put in," Grove said.
"We saw Hayley play with [Canberra United] last season and that helped me realise the potential in me to get there at some stage.
"With more work and showing Vicki [Linton] what I've got, hopefully one day that will happen."
Lucie Bertoldo
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
Lucie Bertoldo is a sports reporter for the Canberra Times.
