By Tony Leighton

Smith was awarded the MBE for services to women's football in 2008

Striker Kelly Smith is aiming to celebrate winning her 100th England cap at the Cyprus Cup by helping Hope Powell's team repeat their 2009 trophy triumph.

Boston Breakers star Smith, a scorer in England's 3-1 victory over Canada in the 2009 Cyprus final, should reach her century in Wednesday's opening group game.

England kick off their campaign in Larnaca against Italy, who co-incidentally were also the opponents when Smith made her 1995 debut.

"A hundred caps is a great milestone to reach," said the 32-year-old former Arsenal player. "And it will be nice if it's the Italy match because that's who I started against.

"I never thought I'd win so many caps, especially after the injuries and setbacks I've had, so it's a massive achievement and I'll be very proud when it happens."

National coach Powell, a midfielder in the England team when Smith made her debut, paid tribute to arguably the country's greatest female player.

"I lent Kelly a pair of my boots for that first game of hers," said Powell. "And I can remember thinking then that she had the potential to become a great player.

"She's one of those players who come along only once or twice in a lifetime. In the men's game you'd think of the likes of Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, players with a unique talent.

"That's what Kelly has and she would have won her 100th cap years ago but for the injuries she's suffered, so credit to her resilience as well as her great ability."

Smith added: "If I get the 100th cap against Italy then hopefully it will come along with a win that can set us up for a good tournament.

"Winning it in 2009 was a fantastic boost for us ahead of that year's Euro finals, and now we want the same sort of boost with the World Cup coming up this summer."

England followed their 2009 Cyprus success with a run to the European Championship final in Helsinki, where they lost to Germany.

This is a key part of our preparation for the World Cup and the most important thing is that every player gets good game time to build up their tournament experience Hope Powell

Germany are hosting this year's World Cup, at which Smith and her colleagues are aiming to surpass their 2007 World Cup achievement of reaching the quarter-finals.

But while the players are desperate to kick-start their build-up to Germany 2011 by winning the Cyprus Cup, Powell has other priorities.

The coach will use the tournament to give fringe players as well as regulars the chance to impress and stake a claim for places in the World Cup squad.

"We will try to win the [Cyprus] Cup again," said Powell. "But this is a key part of our preparation for the World Cup and the most important thing is that every player gets good game time to build up their tournament experience."

After meeting Italy, England will face Scotland and then last year's winners Canada in group games before finals day on Wednesday 11 March.

"It's a testing group," said Powell. "Italy are always difficult opponents, Canada are flying at the moment and the old rivalry with Scotland means that they'll give us a hard time as well."

England squad: Bardsley (New Jersey Sky Blue), Chamberlain (Bristol Academy), Bradley (Lincoln), Johnson (Everton), A. Scott (Boston Breakers), Stoney (Chelsea), Susi (Birmingham City), Unitt (Everton), White (Arsenal), Asante (New York Sky Blue), Bassett (Birmingham City), Clarke (Lincoln), Houghton (Arsenal), J. Scott (Everton), S. Smith (Lincoln), Williams (Everton), Yankey (Arsenal), Aluko (New Jersey Sky Blue), K. Smith (Boston Breakers), White (Arsenal).

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