VICTORIAN Karen Paxman says the “fire is in the belly” to play State of Origin and notch up a win against The Allies at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

The Melbourne defender said it was great to train with her teammates at the Holden Centre on Friday in the lead-up to the 'cream of the crop' contest.

“It’s exciting – it’s good to be with a group of girls you’ve played lots of footy with and against. It should be a good display of women’s footy,” she told melbournefc.com.au.

“When I first started, when I was 16, I was lucky enough to get in to the under 19s state team and we played against all of the other state senior sides back then.

“To have those first memories playing for my state recreated, none of us have been in the ‘Big V’ for about six or seven years, so it’s special.

“Victoria have been known to be the dominant state, so I think that brings a bit more competitiveness than just another exhibition game and holds a bit more meaning.”

Paxman said the State of Origin clash was also staged at an important time in the football calendar.

“It’s pretty handy that there’s a bye round in the AFL for us to have an exhibition game and to get people in tune and excited for the AFLW season that’s approaching,” she said.

“It’s cool to have the best girls in the country come together for that one game a year and for people to see the girls out on the field, all together. It’s a great display of footy at the top level.

“I think we’ve got that advantage of having either played with or against a fair amount of our girls, from all growing up in Victoria. So, I think that advantage of knowing each other a bit better might help.”