But that's exactly what the 25-year-old from the NSW country town of just 2641 people has done.

She was officially named Australian captain on Tuesday taking over from Jane Claxton, who has been standing in since Hockeyroos games-record-holder Madonna Blyth retired following the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Smith will have the backing of a four-woman leadership group made up of Claxton, Rachael Lynch, Kathryn Slattery and Karri McMahon.

Hockeyroos coach Paul Gaudoin also named an 18-woman squad for the Oceania Cup against New Zealand and Papua New Guinea in Sydney from October 11-15.

Smith grew up in Crookwell, near Goulburn, but played two seasons for ANU in the Hockey ACT competition while she was studying year 11 and 12.

The forward has scored 65 goals in 163 matches for the Hockeyroos and was a veteran of two Olympics.

Smith thought she might be in the running for a spot in the leadership group, but the captaincy came as a "bit of a shock".

"I was obviously very excited, it was a bit nerve-wracking at the time ... I wasn't expecting it to be me," she said.

"I thought I would have been part of the leadership group considering I'm now one of the older and more experienced players, but to take over the captaincy was very exciting and a little bit of a shock.

"It's crazy to think that [I'm captain]. There's no way when I was playing in Crookwell that I would've ever thought that I'd play one game for Australia and now to have played so many games and become the captain, it's very exciting."

Smith's already spoken to Blyth and will use her as a mentor as she embarks on her goal of taking the Hockeyroos back to the top of the world.

Australia's currently ranked fifth, with Holland leading the way in women's hockey.

She saw herself as a captain that led with her actions and felt it was an important time in the sport with the Hockey Pro League to begin in 2019.

The newly formed league will pit the nine best teams in home-and-away matches around the world, culminating in a grand final.

"We need someone and people that are wanting to be on the train and just drive so that we can get to that next level," Smith said.

"This group's been around together for a couple of years and had some disappointing results.

"Hockey is changing, it's becoming very innovative with this new Pro League concept so we need to be innovative."

Canberra's Edwina Bone was named in the 18-woman squad, but Anna Flanagan was overlooked for next month's Oceania Cup.

Flanagan's pushing for a return to the Hockeyroos fold after stepping away from the sport last year due to personal reasons.

She was invited to a training camp in Perth last month and Smith backed Flanagan's chances of returning.

Flanagan wants to be part of next year's Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

"She's got a very good chance going forward as long as she keeps doing what she's doing and then I'm sure she'll be given the opportunity that she deserves if she keeps working hard," Smith said.

"We look forward to having her back in once she's got her health on track."

Hockeyroos squad: Laura Barden, Jocelyn Bartram, Edwina Bone, Jane Claxton, Kirstin Dwyer, Ashlea Fey, Madison Fitzpatrick, Jordyn Holzberger, Stephanie Kershaw, Rachael Lynch, Karri McMahon, Kaitlin Nobbs, Madeleine Ratcliffe, Kathryn Slattery, Emily Smith (c), Grace Stewart, Renee Taylor, Georgia Wilson.