Dana Takahara-Dias guarantees a new-look Rainbow Wahine basketball team will take the Stan Sheriff Center court on Saturday.

She just doesn’t know exactly which players will be out there for the 7 p.m. exhibition tip-off against Hawaii Pacific.

“It could come down to game day,” the third-year coach said of her starting lineup. “The competition has been extremely good. We’re pleasantly surprised with how our (eight) newcomers have challenged our returnees.”

Even if Takahara-Dias trotted out five familiar players, chances are UH’s actions and patterns would be unrecognizable to the average fan. The team spent the entire preseason overhauling its offense to a motion system brought in by assistant coach Gavin Petersen.

Among the likely starters are All-Western Athletic Conference selections Kamilah Jackson and Shawna Kuehu. Senior forward Breanna Arbuckle, the team’s most experienced player, should also get a nod.

The changes from last season’s 11-19 campaign begin at point guard, where UH needs a replacement for four-year starter Keisha Kanekoa, one of five seniors UH lost. It will be either 5-foot-3 freshman Alissa Campanero or 5-foot-6 sophomore Jasmine Ray, with the edge believed to be with Campanero.

“It keeps me honest,” Campanero said of the competition. “Every day I have to compete and make sure I’m getting in the game.”

Many of the returnees have been asked to play multiple positions. Arbuckle is among them; she won’t be purely a forward any longer, despite ranking sixth in UH career blocks going into her final season.

“I think it’s going to work out for the best, honestly,” Arbuckle said. “I’m going to be all over the place (on the court). … We’re much smaller than other teams, but we can use our quickness.”

Size does come at a premium in the 2011-12 edition. When it uses a more standard lineup, guard-heavy UH will turn to 6-foot-4 senior center Rebecca Dew to anchor the middle.

Takahara-Dias said all her players will get a chance to play against the Sea Warriors. That’s excepting freshman center Kalei Adolpho, who is still playing with the UH volleyball team.

Guards Malia Cravens, Ashleigh Karaitiana and Kanisha Bello (another possible starter) will suit up as Rainbow Wahine for the first time.

“This is an exhibition game; however, we are taking this very seriously,” Takahara-Dias said. “Everyone will have a chance to get in, have a chance to show up.”

UH plays a second exhibition on Nov. 4 against Brigham Young-Hawaii. The regular season opens on Nov. 11 against Hawaii-Hilo.