In the lead-up to the event the team has had personal training with exercise of specific muscle groups - "your quads, your butt and your core" - nutrition advice, and endurance training.
"Derby has come a long way - there is now a lot of strategy. I certainly didn't expect it to be this complicated when I started," she said.
"It's becoming more and more a sport, rather than wholly entertainment.
"Dominos have come on board and sponsored our uniforms, and that's why we've got new uniforms.
"We are stepping away from the tutus and fishnets," she said.
The tournament is a knock-out cup where the Nightmares are aiming to place mid-range. "With an exceedingly good tournament we'd be aiming for top six."
Derby Royale kicks off at 7am this Saturday at the Arena Manawatu.
The Nightmares have been able to travel to Palmerston North thanks to grants from the Oxford Trust and Pub Charities, as well as team fundraising.
For those new to roller derby, the game is simple.
Five skaters from each team take to the track.
Each side has a scoring skater known as the jammer, who wears a star on their helmet. They line up on the oval track behind four blockers from their team and four from the opposing. A pivot from each team sets the pace as the entire pack skates anti-clockwise.
The jammers must race through the pack and whichever one is through first without getting any penalties is lead jammer.
On the second pass through the pack, the jammers collect one point for each blocker they pass. Only the lead jammer can call off the jam to keep the other team from scoring.
Body blocking is legal, with shoulder and hip checks usually causing some mayhem and knocking players out of bounds.
However, punching, kicking, blocking with the head, shoving and tripping are illegal moves and will see you sin binned or worse.
The Women's Flat Track Derby Association governs the game, including its strict safety standards.
