Camperdown netballer Ruby Pekin-Schlicht flying to USA to study at St Thomas Aquinas College

The multi-talented athlete, who grew up on a farm in south-west Victoria, will fly to the United States on Saturday in readiness for her third year at the New York-based St Thomas Aquinas College.

Pekin-Schlicht's flight coincides with Camperdown's must-win match against North Warrnambool Eagles - the side it must displace in fifth spot to play finals.

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The Magpies are a game and percentage behind the Eagles.

They must win by a significant margin - schoolteacher Richardson plans to crunch the numbers with a maths teacher - to jump ahead.

Richardson said Camperdown was sad to see Pekin-Schlicht leave but wished her the best with her studies and track and field pursuits in the US.

"Nothing is ever an issue with 'Rubes', she was always willing to help out where she could," she said.

"From the very start she took on our under 17 team when there was no one there to coach.

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"Her experience too, down with the (Geelong) Cougars (in the Victorian Netball League), any questions I had or anything she could offer us or help us with she did.

"She is such a modest girl, didn't make things about her, just did what she could for us.

"She was a pleasure to have around the club."

Richardson said the Magpies were aware of the challenge they faced on Saturday.

But she said they remained upbeat and would give it their all against the Skye Billings-coached Eagles at Bushfield.

"I think we've got to throw everything we've got at it, hope for the best and that everything falls our way on the day," she said.

"Someone did say we'd have to win by 20 or 30 goals. It is a very big challenge but someone said at the weekend the Opals (Australia's women's basketball team) had to win by 25 points to get through (at the Olympics) and they won by 27, so we can draw some inspiration, that's for sure."

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Richardson has identified areas the Magpies will need to perform well in.

"Our defensive pressure needs to be on for four quarters," she said.

"Our goalies need to be be on and at the same time we need to let the ball go, have trust in each other and take the game on as much as we can.

"We can't afford to not throw everything at it."

Camperdown is wary North Warrnambool Eagles "has quality all over the court".

"They can flick people here, there and everywhere too," she said.

Having Amanda Clark - Richardson's sister - in goals will help the Magpies' cause.

"Rachel Batten is a wonderful defender so it is going to be a big task for our goalers, Amanda in particular in goal shooter," the playing coach said.

"Last time we lost Amanda in the first quarter. It will be a good match-up."