With a number of new players joining the squad, Hardie feels it is important for goalkeeper Jenna Fife to guide the team from the back.
With a clean sheet in Sunday’s return to SWPL action, Hardie was pleased with the performance from Rangers’ number one.
Speaking to RangersTV this week, she said: “I think it was a good game for Jenna to develop her communication and concentration skills.
“It is really important that she stays tuned in for the whole game and when she is called upon she is ready to come into action, which you saw on Sunday.
“She was comfortable with the ball at her feet so that was good to see for the first game back.
“We have some new players in the team and as a whole our communication is getting a lot better.
“We are really starting to form those relationships now but from Jenna's point of view she needs to be a leader from the back and as a unit we need to be structured behind the ball.”
Since returning to training, Hardie has been pleased with the progress of Jenna Fife and Megan Cunningham as they get back into the routine of full-time training.
She added: “It has been really positive, goalkeeping-wise we have managed to get lots of time on the pitch.
“Jenna and Megan have been training really hard and working well together and as part of a defensive unit we feel really strong and comfortable.
“It is now about getting back on the pitch and making sure we are doing enough injury prevention to make sure that everything is stable.
“Megan and Jenna really push each other every single session, either of them could start on a weekly basis so it is really really good.
“Megan has trained really hard and some of the saves she has pulled off in training are absolutely magnificent. It is good to have two goalkeepers at the club that have the ability to really push.”
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