Team Canada 2010 Tryouts

Zack Greer, Garrett Billings, Adam Jones and Stephen Keogh are pushing hard to make Canada's world field lacrosse team.

They are impressive young attackers trying to win spots during a three-day selection camp that began Saturday. They've got their work cut out for them, but they're not intimidated in their quest to be part of Canada's defence of its world title in Manchester, England, next July.

"You have to come in here with a confident attitude," says Greer. "A lot of us young guys have had a lot of success at different levels so we come in confident but, at the same time, there are a lot of great players here so you need to find a way to make a difference. You have to tread that fine line between trying to do too much and doing what you're good at. It's certainly exciting to be playing with some of the best players in the sport."

Greer was a junior box lacrosse standout in Whitby, Ont., starred in U.S. college field lacrosse at Duke and Bryant and was the No. 3 pick in the recent NLL draft by the Minnesota Swarm. He whipped in a powerful sidearm shot for a goal during the camp's first intrasquad game. The hitting was heavy. It's the Canadian style and you've got to be ready for it" he said. "I definitely expected that coming in, for sure."

Head coach David Huntley has his pick of such pro shooters as Dan Dawson, Shawn Williams, Jeff Zywicki, John Grant, Mark Steenhuis, Gavin Prout, Merrick Thomson and Jordan Hall, so the rookies are going to have to be eye-popping good to win a roster spot.

"It's nerve wracking," a sweaty Jones said as he left the field after the first intrasquad test. "You're out here with people you grew up watching, some of your favourite players. "You try not to get starstruck. It's really neat. It's a great opportunity." Jones plays field lacrosse at Canisius College in Buffalo. The native of Owen Sound, Ont., was named Minto Cup MVP when he helped the Orangeville Northmen win the 2009 Canadian junior championship.

His father, Brian Jones, played on Canada's team that won the world title in 1978, also in England. Did he get any advice before attending camp? He just said, 'Work your hardest. Keep your head up and good things will happen.' He said it would be pretty neat to have both of us, father and son, play for Canada."

Billings was drafted by the NLL's Toronto Rock last month out of the University of Virginia. He tried out for the 2006 world team and was one of the final cuts. "I'm competing with a lot of other righty attackmen and we've got quite a few good ones," he said. "I'll give it my best shot."

Keough, a Toronto native, was a teammate of Jones in Orangeville and preceded Jones as Minto Cup MVP. "It's a great experience playing against the best players in Canada," Keogh said. "It's a great opportunity. I'll work hard. Representing Canada has been something I've wanted to do since I was a little kid."