Lincoln Ladies' Casey Stoney has won 87 caps for England

When Lincoln Ladies FC were named as one of the eight sides in the inaugural FA Women's Super League, a few eyebrows were raised among the more established English women's teams, some of whom had found themselves overlooked in the selection process.

But after making a string of high-profile signings including several England internationals, few are doubting the Lady Imps' ambition and desire to make an impact in the new top flight, with their first match against Doncaster Rovers Belles at Sincil Bank on Wednesday, 13 April.

Their most recent signing Casey Stoney believes they can even challenge for the title.

The 28-year-old defender, who has 87 England caps, joined Lincoln from Chelsea just a month before the start of the season.

She told BBC Lincolnshire: "I'll have the opportunity to train every day and play for a side which is hopefully going to challenge for the WSL title.

"They train professionally, they're taking things seriously and taking women's football to a new level."

Stoney joins fellow full England internationals Sue Smith, Jess Clarke and Sophie Bradley at Lincoln, along with players who have won international honours at junior levels.

Sue Smith is one of several ex-Leeds Carnegie players to join Lincoln

Midfielder Smith, one of many players to move to Lincoln from Leeds Carnegie in order to play in the WSL, is perhaps the most famous face in English women's football, as much for her flamboyant hairstyles as her playing skills.

As well as winning more than 100 caps she is a familiar face in the media and will doubtless be a big draw as Lincoln look to build their fanbase through a strong community ethic.

Also in midfield will be the likes of England winger Jess Clarke, England juniors Lucy Staniforth, Bonnie Horwood and Remi Allen, and club stalwarts Megan Harris and Sophie Barker who came through the junior ranks.

Indeed Harris has been with the club since its very start, when she was 12.

While Stoney is likely to get much of the attention in defence, she is certainly not the only star performer at the back.

Leandra Little has been tipped by manager Rod Wilson as a future England player, while Sophie Bradley already is one at the age of 21.

In goal, Kay Hawke was one of Lincoln's first high-profile signings when the former England international joined the club, then in the Northern Division of the Women's Premier League, from National Division side Blackburn four years ago.

England will have a big squad but to have four of our players in there is fantastic Lincoln Ladies manager Rod Wilson

Hawke will face competition for the keeper's jersey from Nic Hobbs, who returns to the club after spells with Blackburn, Doncaster and Everton.

If there is one area in which the Lady Imps currently lack strength in depth it is in attack, where Carla Cantrell is likely to lead the line in the early stages of the season, although the club are making efforts to bring in more forwards.

The profile of the sport in Lincoln is set to be further raised with the Women's World Cup to come in the summer of 2011.

"England will have a big squad but to have four of our players in there is fantastic for the city and fantastic for us," says Wilson.

But as women's football enters a new era in England, the question is can Lincoln Ladies FC be at the forefront of it?

Certainly, if their performances and more crucially their results can match their ambition, then the traditional big clubs such as Arsenal and Everton may find themselves upstaged by the new girls on the block.

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