WATCH LIVE

EVENT ROSTER (PDF)

Forty-eight of the nation’s top lacrosse players will have one final chance to impress U.S. national team head coach John Danowski and his staff at the Team USA Spring Premiere at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

The Blue-White game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. will be streamed live by US Lacrosse. Here’s what to watch for.

The Final Cut

This marks the third consecutive year that US Lacrosse will showcase its national teams at IMG Academy, with much more at stake this time around. Shortly after the event, US Lacrosse will announce the 23-man world championship roster.

Fall Classic Fallout

A mixed bag of results at Team USA Fall Classic — the U.S. needed a late Drew Snider goal to eke past Maryland, a game in which Terps midfielder Connor Kelly, one of just two current collegians on the U.S. training team, outshone everyone — may have opened up some opportunities for players on the bubble. The defense especially will be under the microscope. Danowski said there’s a steeper learning curve at that end of the field, since slide packages are not emphasized as much at the professional level.

NLL Conflicts

The U.S. likely will be without midfielder Tom Schreiber, who is suiting up for the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock Saturday night in Vancouver. Georgia Swarm players Liam Byrnes (practice) and Joel White (holdout) are the only other U.S. training team members on NLL rosters. Both are expected to suit up for Team USA in Bradenton.

Vets vs. Newcomers

A U.S. Blue-White scrimmage in September pitted a veteran Blue squad comprised mostly of players that have multiple U.S. caps against a White team largely made up of those going through their first national team cycle. That split remained almost entirely intact for Fall Classic in October. The Blue team, as mentioned, was tested by Maryland, while the White team blew out Towson. Will Danowski and company — including defensive coordinator Joe Amplo and offensive coordinator Seth Tierney — shake things up for a final evaluation?

Faceoffs and Goalies

Greg Gurenlian, the lone faceoff specialist with international experience, and Trevor Baptiste, the other current collegian on the U.S. training team, have taken the majority of reps alongside Tom Kelly. Brendan Fowler and Joe Nardella have sat out the last two training weekends with injuries. Will either be able to suit up and push for a traveling roster spot?

The goalie competition featuring Drew Adams, John Galloway, Jack Kelly and Brian Phipps also bears watching. It’s not only about the hot hand, but who commands the respect of and meshes best with the defense in front of him.

Meet Team USA

In addition to the Blue-White game, US Lacrosse will offer clinics for players, coaches and officials and an opportunity to meet the team at a fundraising dinner. Learn more at uslacrosse.org/springpremiere.