Six women from Manono, Savaii and Upolu are ready to depart the country for the Pacific Cup in Auckland on Friday to join 11 other women representing Samoa from overseas.

In a press conference with the media on Wednesday Chief Executive Officer Sala Muliagatele Stella Siale-Vaea Tangitau stressed that the goal is to boost the team's ranking which dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Our team is ready for the Pacific Cup and I'm very excited because the girls have shown a lot of dedication and hard work in training and preparations for this tournament, " Sala said.

"This tournament is very essential as it can move up our ranking internationally if we do well at the Pacific Cup.

"The aim is to not only enhance our placings internally but also to gain bonuses so we can move up in terms of rankings overseas.

The selected players will also be playing in Indonesia in May this year.

The Pacific Cup will be played in New Zealand in a T20 format. There are six teams which include Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and for the first time the Aotearoa Maori Women's team. The competition starts on 17 January 2024.

Samoa Women's Team - Coach: Taitoe Kaisala. Regina Sela Monika Lili (captain), Lagi Otila Telea, Tuaoloa Helen Semau, Taalili Iosefo, Eleni Tasha Vaaetasi, Faaiuga Poutu, Jacinta Sanele, Ailaoa Felicia Aoina, Leit Ah Leong, Avetia Fetu Mapu, Norah Jade Salima, Luella Atimalala Bracey, Francesca Nafanua Eti Tonuu, Carol Agafili, Jane Taliilagi Manase, Olive Lefaga.