Sisters Natasha and Krisha Kai, University of Hawai'i women's soccer stars, will not accompany the team on its first road trip because they have yet to pass the team's mandatory fitness tests.

The Rainbow Wahine (2-2) open their road trip in the 49er Classic in Long Beach, Calif., against Weber State (1-2) Saturday, then take on Long Beach State (2-1) Monday. They also play at UC Santa Barbara (1-3) Wednesday before returning home.

Hawai'i coach Pinsoom Tenzing said the sisters "are about to finish completing their team responsibilities," and pass their tests, which he uses to determine a player's level of conditioning.

To start or travel, each player must pass three timed tests — a 12-minute run in which a player must complete seven laps around a track, 120-yard sprints 10 times, and shuttle runs.

"His whole thing is being in shape; I feel I'm in the shape I need to play soccer," said Natasha Kai, the team's co-captain and preseason Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. "I'm in soccer shape, but I'm not in marathon shape, but I'm not going to run a mara-thon."

Natasha (3) and Krisha (1) have accounted for four of Hawai'i's five goals this season. Because of Tenzing's conditioning rule, neither has started a game this season, but has entered games early for quality minutes.

"I wish them luck; I want them to win," Natasha said. "I'm OK with staying home. I get to spend time with my family."

Hawai'i fields an 18-player roster for regular-season road games. It has three road trips, including the upcoming one, and the WAC Championships in Boise, Idaho.

On this trip Hawai'i will field a roster with three seniors, two juniors, and the rest freshmen and sophomores.

"It is a concern, because we need our big guns (Natasha and Krisha), but we are hoping they condition themselves so they become truly, truly impact players," Tenzing said.

None of the team's three captains — Natasha Kai, midfielder Seline Williams (knee injury) or Jessica Domingo (knee injury) — is making the trip.

"I'm afraid to appoint anybody, because they seem to get hurt," Tenzing said of his lack of available captains.

Weber State opened the season with a win, but has since been outscored 10-3 in losses to Arizona State (5-2) and BYU (5-1). UH owns a 3-2 series record with the Wildcats.

"I suspect that will be the easiest of the three games," Tenzing said.

Long Beach State, which had the 15th-ranked recruiting class in the nation, lost to No. 3 UCLA (3-0) to open the season, then defeated Idaho State and WAC member San Jose State (4-0). LBSU received votes in the Soccer Buzz West Region rankings.

"Terrific team with a terrific recruiting season," Tenzing said. "Long Beach is going to be very tough."

UC Santa Barbara beat WAC member Fresno State, 2-1, to open its season, before losses to Central Florida (4-0), Saint Mary's (1-0) and California (1-0). The series is tied 2-2, with UH beating the Gauchos 2-1 in overtime last season.

Notes: The injuries are not stopping for Hawai'i — nor are they exclusive to the players. Coach Pinsoom Tenzing was diagnosed with a minor stress fracture in his left foot, and is in a walking boot. ... UCSB midfielder Chandi Bickford, a King Kekaulike graduate, has been sidelined in the opening weeks of the season because of a knee injury. ... Hawai'i returns home for the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts Soccer Shootout, Sept. 23 to 25, against Robert Morris and Butler.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.