Queenstown netballer Erin Aston (below) steps her representative team goal up a notch by playing in a national development competition this weekend. 

Aston, 21, will spend the next six weeks travelling around the country with the Southland team for her third successive Lois Muir Cup Challenge. 

The annual Lois Muir Cup Challenge is an important competition for emerging young players. 

The traditionally-dominant Southland team takes on Counties-Manukau, Auckland and Northland this weekend. 

Southland goes up against other southern teams next weekend in Dunedin during the points-based series. 

“We won the competition last year so I guess we’re probably expected to win it again this year,” mid-court player Aston says. 

She’s hoping her efforts and qualifying for August’s national provincial championship will put her in a good position to eventually make the Southern Steel team. 

“I’m hoping for a contract next year,” she says.