Kaitlyn Lawes will slide out of junior right into the pursuit of her Olympic dream much earlier than planned.

The reigning Canadian junior women's champion will play third for Alberta's Cathy King at the Olympic trials qualifying bonspiel in Prince George, B.C., Lawes confirmed yesterday.

"I played with her a couple of times this season because her third (Lori Olson) was pregnant," said the Winnipegger, who played for King at both the Canada Cup qualifier and the Canada Cup. "(Olson) decided to play with (Alberta's) Crystal Webster next year so they asked me to play."

King, a former Canadian women's champ, played with several different curlers last season but obviously felt most comfortable with Lawes.

"I'm very excited," said Lawes, who won the silver medal at the junior world championships in Vancouver last winter. "I'm very excited to play in the pre-trials and possibly, the Olympic trials. That would be amazing and definitely something worth working for."

The opportunity is coming much sooner than if she was just starting out in women's after finishing her junior career.

"The way Canada has it (qualifying) set up, you'd have to start two or three years in advance," said Lawes, who also won the 2008 Canadian junior championship.

Lawes plans to move to Edmonton, where she can play and practise with King's team, this August.

Four of the 12 teams at the pre-trials qualifier will advance to the Canadian Curling Trials in Edmonton.