Adding that Roberts, who is a product of Whangarei Girls' High School, is another great talent to emerge from Northland, Lints said the aspiring goalkeeper oozes "natural ability" and is "very agile".
While it's still to be confirmed which other teams will compete at the tournament, it's expected that Australia, who have recently had a series against Argentina, will be the Kiwis' toughest competition.
Planning to train Polovnikoff and McDonnell over summer, Lints said. "Hockey New Zealand have identified some skills they need to work on", and a key aspect of their work-ons will involve identifying how to shake the zippy, aggressive Australian defenders, as well as "converting opportunities" in the goal-scoring circle.
Head coach Sean Dancer named the Women's Junior World Cup qualifier squad from a recent Future Black Sticks Camp which saw 50 athletes attend a four-day training camp in Auckland under the guidance of the national coaches.
"I'm pleased with the depth that we are developing in this group, there is more competition between the players as they vie for selection," Dancer said.
"The key focus for our players over the next couple of months will be to improve their fitness - this is where we want to see the big gains."
The top two finishers at the qualifying tournament are guaranteed a spot at the 2016 FIH Women's Junior World Cup in Chile.
The Junior Black Sticks are also getting a taste for international competition, with 40 players set to come to Auckland for the Junior Black Sticks training camp, which runs December 4-7, 2015.
Following the camp, 38 players will be named to play against Australia in January, 2016.
-The Future Black Sticks are players identified as having the potential to be a Black Stick within 1-3 years, while the Junior Black Sticks are players identified as having the potential to be a Black Stick within 3-5 years.
