Adelaide SA, Australia, 13 November 2013 | Tennis Australia

The Glenlea Gators men’s side is again shaping up as the team to beat in this year’s Asia-Pacific Tennis League SA Conference.

While the two time state winners have lost Wimbledon junior doubles champion Thanasi Kokkinakis from their side, Glenlea coach Todd Langman believes his team is still in with a good chance.

With ATP rated young gun Jack Schipanski alongside the likes of Pan Kokkinakis, Todd Ley and Josh Boots onboard, the team possesses both great depth and experience going into the competition.

While the Gators has put together a strong team and are looking to reassert their dominance in the competition Langman says this year the focus has also shifted to helping develop the states’ young talent.

“We wanted to give young players such as the States number one 14 year old, Brock Meuris, a chance to step up and play” he explained.

Focusing on local talent was also a driving force behind putting together a women’s side for this year’s competition.

This has seen the Glenlea based club recruit State League player of the year Madison Frahn and promising junior players Olivia Ley and Isabel Rhyles. Also on the team are local players Maddy Bishop and Mimi Ahern-Briggs.

With all five girls on the team under the age of 17, Langman believes the women’s side will face an uphill battle, however as with the men’s side, development of young players has been a key goal.

As for the men’s side, Langman believes The Drive and The Trinity Titans will be his side’s toughest competition.