Canberra United captain Nicole Begg is breaking new ground as the only female playing in a men's National Premier League competition in Australia.
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After testing herself against boys in Olympic's under-16 and under-18 teams for the past three years, Begg (nee Sykes) has made the step up to the club's NPL 20s team this season.
The defender has embraced the chance to improve her game until the start of the W-League in October.
Begg has been with Olympic since 2012 and decided to test herself after returning from a playing stint in Sweden.
Chasing tough competition so she could hit the ground running for Canberra United, Begg played in the boys under-16 and under-18 divisions before being elevated to the NPL 20s this season.
Teams in the NPL20s are allowed a handful of over-age players to complement the best up and coming talent in the region.
"The quality of game you get in the NPL 20s is really high, so to be able to train and play at that level all year round is a massive benefit to me," Begg said.
"The pace and the physicality is definitely challenging.
"I can get away with a lot more in the women's competition because I'm one of the fastest players out there.
"In the men's, I have to rely on reading the game and better judgment decisions to keep up with them."
Begg isn't the first Canberra United player to take on the opposite sex - fellow defender and former skipper Ellie Brush has previously played in the first-grade competition in Albury.
Olympic's technical director Rey Castro said Begg hadn't looked out of place.
"Football wise, we didn't think about her being a girl or nothing, we didn't even mention that," Castro said.
"There was no hesitation.
"She's good in the air, she's strong, she commands the ball very well.
"If you're watching from a distance, you don't see any gaps in her game."
In Capital Football National Premier League games this weekend, Tigers FC and Belconnen United will look to stay in touch with top of the table Canberra FC when they square off at Nijong Oval on Saturday.
Tigers FC and Belconnen United are both on six points, three behind Canberra FC, which has the bye this weekend.
In other games on Sunday, Gungahlin United hosts Woden Weston FC, Tuggeranong United entertains Monaro Panthers and Canberra Olympic faces the FFA Centre of Excellence.
CAPITAL FOOTBALL NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE
Saturday: Round four: Tigers FC v Belconnen United at Nijong Oval, 3pm.
Sunday: Gungahlin United v Woden Weston FC at Gungahlin Enclosed, 3pm. Tuggeranong United v Monaro Panthers at Kambah 2-1, 3pm. Canberra Olympic v FFA Centre of Excellence, 3pm.
