Railway Union flew out to the Netherlands on Tuesday morning looking to upset the continent's finest teams as they represent Ireland at the Euro Hockey League Finals.
Railway earned their place in the prestigious tournament last April, when they defeated Loreto 1-0 to win the EY Champions Trophy.
The event runs over six days, beginning on Wednesday when the Irish side will square up to Dutch powerhouses Stichtsche Cricket en Hockey Club (SCHC).
"It's the top-level club hockey competition in Europe," Railway and Ireland star Sarah Hawkshaw told RTÉ Sport.
"It's an incredibly competitive tournament. We're going to have the top two teams from Germany, Holland, Belgium; England are going to be there, they have one representative team.
"We've drawn the No 1 seeded team, being SCHC which is the Dutch team, in the first round. But look, if you're going to these events you want to be playing against the best teams in it."
Railway Union have good pedigree in the ranks. They know they're up against it here, but Hawkshaw insists they are not travelling with any fear.
"We have a very competitive team ourselves," she added. "We have, not only hgh performers on the pitch but professionals off the pitch. We have doctors, we have scientists, we have teachers, we have businesswomen, we have mothers as well.
"It's just a very exciting tournament. One to represent Railway, two to represent Ireland to play at the top level of club hockey in Europe, but really it's the top tier in the world.
"If we win tomorrow we'd go on to play the second seeded team, which would be Den Bosch, the hosts. If we lose we would play most likely the Ukrainian representative (MSC Sumchanka).
"We do have a competitive unit in our squad. We have Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan, current Ireland internationals, we have some ex-internationals in Emma Smith, who is also a mother, and Emma Buckley.
"Who knows what can happen in hockey? But tomorrow will definitely be a very difficult start."
FIXTURES
Wednesday 16 April
M1 SK Slavia Prague v Surbiton HC
M2 Club de Campo de Madrid v Braxgata HC
M3 Mannheimer v MSC Sumchanka
M4 Railway Union v SCHC
Thursday
Ranking match 9th/11th place - Loser M1 v Loser M2
Winner M1 v Düsseldorfer
Real Club de Polo vs Winner M2
Friday
Ranking Match 9th/11th place - Loser M4 vs Loser M3
Winner M3 vs Gantoise HC
Hertogenbosch vs Winner M4
