Strathmore Scorpions coach Meshack Senge expects his inexperienced charges to exhibit great character against record champions Blazers in a Kenya Hockey Union women's Premier League match on Saturday.
Senge, who guided Gladiators (Strathmore men's team) to the 2016 league title believes the students will have to shake their underdogs' tag and be competitive.
The former men's national team coach is banking on the Scorpions' hunger to be the best team in the country even though they are in transition.
"Every game is important and we are taking the Blazers match like any other," said Senge, who has been at Strathmore for a decade.
"We want to be the best team. 90 percent of my players are playing in the league for the first time but we won't be gullible. We know they (Blazers) are an accomplished side with talented players but we will put our best foot forward," said Senge.
"We are in a position to control results and put a foothold to the standings."
Just last weekend, Senge's vast experience saw him added to the national women's team technical bench to help in preparing the Jacquiline Mwangi-led side for the Commonwealth Games set for July in Birmingham.
Scorpions are on a good run having won their opening two matches. The 3-0 classic win over Sliders a fortnight ago was followed by 1-0 hard-fought victory against Wolverines. Blazers on the other hand thrashed Sliders 3-0 before drawing 1-1 with USIU-A Spartans last Sunday.
It was the first time Blazers dropped points against Spartans and while Scorpions' only good result against Blazers was in the 2017/18 season, a 1-1 draw, Senge feels it's the right time to tackle nine-time African Champions.
"Players' hunger to prove themselves could be the difference. You only feel good when you challenge the best and that's why we are motivated to beat the champions."
"Maybe their draw last time against Spartans was just a blip. I know for a fact the result didn't go down well with them but we have a tactical plan for the match."
In terms of fitness, Senge expects the players to hit peak condition after a couple of matches.
"So far so good but we are not at the level we want to be fitness-wise, but we have got time to be better," he said.
