The women's rugby league calendar for 2019 officially kicks off in Melbourne with the double-header Harvey Norman All Stars clash at AAMI Park on Friday night.

After a one-year hiatus due to World Cup commitments, the women's All Stars concept has followed in the footsteps of their male counterparts with the Indigenous All Stars hosting a new-look New Zealand Maori line-up.

The Indigenous squad is new-look itself, with many representative stars missing through injury or personal reasons. Coach Dean Widders has picked a youthful squad to help develop the next crop of stars.

But for both sides their journeys to the big stage and work in the community leading into the clash is considered just as important as the fixture itself.

What you need to know

Key match-up

Bec Young v Geneva Webber: Former Jillaroos prop Bec Young returns to the representative fold after being overlooked for the NRLW competition. Young will have the fire in her belly to impress and lead an inexperienced line-up and her battle with Geneva Webber could bring the fireworks. Webber, a former world heavyweight sumo fighter, was once ranked number one in the Oceania but will face a different kind of challenge when she laces on the boots for her latest clash.