The Ballarat Futsal Centre will host the opening round of southern conference action on August 16-17.

Teams competing in the southern conference include Ballarat, West Coast Futsal from Perth and Melbourne’s Joma Jaguars.

Another Western Australian side and Adelaide Fury are also potential inclusions, but are yet to be confirmed.

Perth will host the second round of action on August 23-24.

BFC manager and men’s and women’s coach Corey Smith is excited to host the opening round of action.

“To be hosting is a testament to the facilities we have,” Smith said.

“Ballarat has so much on its doorstep now and the guys are a bit excited now that it’s announced. 

“We’re probably half prepared already but, now that dates are finalised, we can start booking flights.”

Smith said both of Ballarat’s competing teams would receive their custom sky blue and navy blue playing outfits in the coming weeks.

The women’s squad, of around 20 players, has been in full training since January’s national championships.

Several Castlemaine athletes are training with the full squad, and Smith hopes to import a high-class Melbourne goalkeeper in the lead-up to the opening round.

Final numbers for the men’s team remain a work in progress. 

Smith said there was no pressure placed on either side, despite their respective quarter-final appearances at the national championships.

“We’re really the newcomers, so there’s no pressure on us,” Smith said.

“Internally, we’re confident.”

Meanwhile, competition for the northern conference began this weekend, with Newcastle on top of the men’s ladder, while Parramatta is dominating the women’s division.