As most NSW senior students are busy fretting about their HSC exams, Lauren Smith will be putting on a Breakers uniform and making her professional cricket debut.

The 18-year-old off-spinner was selected in the NSW women’s side last week and will get her first shot on the pitch in Saturday’s Women’s National Cricket League match against the ACT Meteors.

But there’ll be no resting after her debut because Smith is following a tight study regime ahead of her first HSC exam on Monday.

“Now that it’s getting close to exams I try to do at least three hours every night(of study),” she said.

“It’s hectic.”

The teenager’s selection is no small feat.

The NSW Breakers have dominated the national women’s league since its inception and are gunning for their 10th successive one-day title.

Smith says she’s nervous to play with some of the biggest names in women’s sport, including Ellyse Perry, Alyssa Healy and captain Alex Blackwell.

“I used to see her (Blackwell) and be like ‘Oh I want to be like her’,” Smith said.

“Now that I’m in the Breakers and playing with her I’m really proud of myself.”

The team’s coach, Joanne Broadbent, doesn’t share the youngster’s nerves.

She says the competitive spin bowler has a long career ahead of her in the sport.

“We’re really excited to have Lauren in the midst because it means we have three (spin bowlers), Broadbent told AAP on Thursday.

“(She’s) very gutsy also with the bat and she’ll have a go around the field as well.”

“She’ll be developing into a really great player.”

For Smith, training with some of the world’s best is already paying off.

She says her bowling technique has changed significantly during the pre-season.

“I’m more of a loopy spinner now and I’m turning it much more which is going to be really effective in the games,” she said.

Smith began playing cricket in her brother’s Central Coast team at age eight.

After 10 years juggling school and training she’s thinking about taking a gap year in England before heading to university.

But she says any time away will have to involve cricket.

“I was thinking about playing cricket over there in County,” Smith said.

“Which will help me expand more and … get different aspects of the game … from the other side of the world.”

Smith’s selection came just days before 17-year-old Jake Doran became the youngest player to sign a T20 Big Bash contract.

He’ll get a chance to finish his HSC before that season kicks off in December.