West Australian softball stars Leah Parry and Leigh Godfrey will be among the first of our country’s Olympic hopefuls to head to Japan, with the duo flying out today.

Parry and Godfrey are part of the 23-player squad which will compete for the final team of 15 to represent the Aussie Spirit at the 2021 Olympic Games, with their opening clash on July 21, two days after the opening ceremony against the host country.

The pair have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and are confident the procedures and safety plans put in place will keep them safe as they participate in an almost two-month training camp, which includes practice matches, ahead of the opening clash with Japan.

For Parry it’s a chance at redemption, with the second baser being one of the last players cut for the 2008 Olympic squad, which won bronze.

The 41-year-old retired for two years, becoming a mother for the second time before deciding to have another crack after the sport was reintroduced to the Olympics, returning to the Aussie Spirit team for the 2019 Asia Pacific Cup.

Having known the heartbreak of non-selection, Parry does not want to jinx herself just yet by saying she’ll be an Olympian.

“Selection for the final team isn’t until the end of June,” she said.

“It (training in Japan) is going to be worth it for us because we’ve missed a lot of competition here in Australia and not being able to travel internationally.

“We really need to go over there and get some games under our belt as a team and as a squad.

“The best thing about softball is there’s only six countries vying for three medals. So it’s a 50 per cent chance of winning one and we really want to get Australia’s first gold for softball.”

Godfrey, an outfielder, said it was going to be a “unique” Olympics.

“The majority of our group haven’t been to an Olympic Games because the sport has been out of those cycles, so I think there’s always going to be nerves when you’re representing your country but also when you’re competing and vying for selection,” she said.

“Hopefully all the protocols that have been put in place will keep everyone safe.

“I’ve dreamt of it (winning a gold medal) ever since I was a young girl. I think I was about eight when I started playing the sport and I don’t think I have the words to describe it.”