After making his A-League debut last season, the Shellharbour teenager has become a mainstay in defence for the reigning premiers.

The sky blues have been flying this season at the top of the ladder with 11 rounds remaining until the finals.

"The team's got a lot of confidence and we're happy with where are at," King said.

"But we're trying not to get complacent - there's still half a season to go."

King grew up playing football in the Illawarra for Shellharbour before he joined a Football NSW program called Project 22, which was open for the state's best nine to 14-year-old players.

He then enjoyed a stint in Sydney before moving to Canberra to join the Australian Institute of Sport.

That opportunity paved the way for King to join the sky blues in 2018.

The defender represented Sydney FC in the National Youth League and National Premier League before getting his shot in the A-League.

Now 19 years old, he has not looked back.

"I think as each game goes by, I'm getting a little better and a bit more confident. I'm just trying to keep on getting better," King said.

"But the guys around me make it a lot easier for me, guys like 'Ninko' [Milos Ninkovic], Wilko [Alex Wilkinson] and Paul Retre in the midfield. I can't thank them enough."

See more: Foord shapes as key again for the Matildas on Monday night

Another Illawarra talent is also building a solid resume at the sky blues.

Mackenzie Hawkesby, also 19, is enjoying her debut season in the W-League. She has now represented Sydney FC in three games.

The midfielder played her junior football at Figtree and joined the Illawarra Stingrays at 12. She switched to Western Sydney Wanderers in 2018/19 before moving across the city this season.

The defending champions are third despite losing two stars: Shellharbour's Caitlin Foord and Chloe Logarzo.

"I feel like we've done well," Hawkesby said.

"We've had a fairly solid season, scored a lot of goals, but I think there's lots of improvement heading into the finals. We've lost two of our key players but it's time for our young ones to step up."

The teenager said she had been made to feel comfortable at Sydney FC.

"As soon as I walked into the club, everyone was so welcoming. I'm just a young girl from the South Coast so I was nervous," she said.

"Now, I feel so comfortable there and I'm so happy. I've got close to Teresa Polias, she's such a great player and a great person - she took me under her wing. It's been a really good season for me."

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