Williams leaves Australia in two weeks for Chicago where she will trial for a month with the Red Stars.

She will be vying for the second goalkeeping spot with the team having already signed Sweden's Caroline Jonsson.

Making it even harder for the Canberra custodian is that she will be up against an American goalkeeper for the spot.

If the 20-year-old Australian claims the second spot, she will be one of the youngest players in the new league.

''I think the other goalkeepers are 31 and 28, so obviously I'm a fair bit younger and I think hopefully I can bring a bit of a spark and I can use that to my advantage,'' Williams said.

The new American league starts in April with teams from Boston, Chicago, LA, the San Francisco Bay Area, St Louis, New Jersey-New York and Washington.

Another three clubs will join in 2010.

The former league, the WUSA, was disbanded in 2003.

Each club has to include a set number of Americans as well as internationals.

The Chicago team has the leading goalscorer at last year's Beijing Olympics, Brazilian Cristiane, plus Matilda Heather Garriock who was selected in the international player draft.

Williams also has the advantage of owning an American passport courtesy of her mother being born in America. Consequently, Williams doesn't have to be signed as an international player.

The Canberra keeper will be part of a 28-player squad when she arrives in Chicago.

That number will be reduced to 22 players, with 18 of those receiving contracts.

The other four players will be squad replacements and not receive a wage.

''It's very exciting, but I'm not sure how I'm going to handle how I'll be on the plane when I go over there,'' Williams said.

If Williams is offered the third goalkeeping spot, she is likely to return to Australia after the trial rather than stick it out as a replacement player.

But whatever happens, she sees the next month as a positive experience.

''I'd probably visit my family over there and then just come home and continue what I've been doing here,'' Williams.

''But I guess there isn't really negatives in it for me at all, it's a fantastic opportunity, so I guess I'll just take a punt.''