You welcome the reigning champions this week – what sort of match are you expecting?

We’re expecting a tough game but looking forward to the challenge.

How will Shiel be looking to bounce back from last week’s derby loss to Skye?

We were rusty last week, but we’re getting back into the swing of things for the next game and working on what went wrong also.

It’s a trip down to Glasgow next week in the Valerie Fraser – what are Shiel’s aims for the cup this season?

We’re looking to do better this year in the cup and do our best I suppose.

What lessons have been learnt from your match against Badenoch earlier in the season?

The lesson I’ve learned would be to have a stronger start and to be focused from the beginning.

You were the league’s second top scorer last season with 24 goals—how confident are you in maintaining that level of form this year?

That is a question that pops into my head every now and again. Last season I think I took a lot of people by surprise, including myself, but I’ve been training hard and looking after myself so I can’t see any reason why I can’t continue at this level. That said, I’m trying not to focus on the numbers too much. As long as the team wins, I’m happy.

Glasgow Mid Argyll did the double over Lochaber last season—does that give the squad extra belief heading into the opening game?

To be honest with you, we aren’t thinking much about Lochaber – or anyone really! Last season is behind us and anything can happen. The vibe is good in camp and we are working hard to build a team that will give anyone a run for their money. We know we are in for a tough match and we will be excited to get the season off to a good start.

Lochaber finished just two points ahead of you last year—how important is it to start strong and lay down an early marker?

Very important. We want to hit the ground running and let people know what we are about.

What improvements have the team focused on over the winter to push higher up the table this season?

There is a few things we have focused on but a big one is fitness. It’s not so easy to get your hill sprints in at Yoker but we have tried our best to keep ticking over during the winter period.

Squad depth is another big thing for us. Our captain, Ali, has worked hard to bring in new players from the Gaelic School. Not only is it good for the sport but we have identified that in order to compete with the teams above us we need a full squad to get us through the tough fixtures.

A lot of work has gone on behind the scenes here to try and create an identity for GMA women. We have really reflected on the season, what worked for us, what didn’t, where we could have done better. A lot of time and effort has been put into giving the team the best possible chance to perform at their best and, more importantly, enjoy their shinty. Hopefully the performances will reflect that.

As a forward, you’ll be up against a tough Lochaber defence—how do you plan to break them down on their own patch?

I keep a note after every game about what worked for me and what didn’t. I have a look over it in the week running up to the game so I have a clear picture of how I’m going to play at the weekend. That’s all you’re getting from me though, I can’t give away all my secrets!