Hockeyroos striker Rosie Malone will never forget the day she chose hockey over a potential W-League contract.

“I was still playing soccer last year, right up until I was called into the Hockeyroos squad,” Malone said.

“That same day I got the call up, Mum called my soccer coach to tell him the news and he said the Brisbane Roar’s coach wanted me to trial for the club’s W-League side. It was a crazy day and to think, if that phone call from the Hockeyroos came just a week later, who knows what I’d be doing.”

Eight months later and the Queenslander’s decision to focus on hockey has paid off.

She was nominated for FIH Rising Star of the Year in 2018 and is currently a key weapon in the Hockeyroos side that will take on the Netherlands in their FIH Pro League opener on Saturday.

“It’s so surreal. In 2017 I was idolising these girls, now I’m playing with them. And suddenly I’ve got young girls messaging me on Instagram, asking for hockey advice and wanting photos after games.” Malone said.

After getting thumped 5-1 to Holland in last year’s Champions Trophy, the Aussies will head into today’s rematch hungry for redemption.

They will be able to draw on experience now and know the mental game will play a big part in getting on top of number-one ranked nation in the world.

“It’s really important that as a squad we don’t just assume the Dutch are unbeatable and that no one can touch them,” Malone said.

“We drew with them in the World Cup semi-final and only lost in shoot outs, so we really can give them a run for their money.”

The FIH Pro League is a new competition that has the best hockey sides in the world compete over a six-month period and replaces the Champions Trophy and World League Finals.

The Hockeyroos will play eight of their Pro League games in Australia over the next six weeks, giving fans a chance to see them take on some of the best on home soil and the team time to finetune their game ahead of next year’s Olympics.

“It’s a great opportunity to grow the game domestically and get matches around Australia. Four different cities will get to see world class hockey,” said Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudion said.

“And it’s a great opportunity to test out combinations in the lead up to Tokyo 2020, and we are certainly using the opportunity to further develop our players.”

2019 FIH Pro League Hockeyroos’ fixtures

State Netball & Hockey Centre, Melbourne

Saturday, February 2

v Netherlands, 4.45pm (AEDT)

Sunday, February 3

v Belgium 4.45pm (AEDT)