While the Melbourne Vixens won more games in the pre-season than they did in the entire 2021 Super Netball season, co-captain Kate Maloney says they aren't getting carried away by the hype.
Premiers in 2020, the Vixens only managed two wins last year but signalled they could be again be a force with an undefeated romp through the Team Girls Cup.
Given that reigning champions the NSW Swifts played fellow grand finalists the Giants for the wooden spoon, Maloney wasn't buying it as a genuine form guide.
However, the mid-court veteran said it did give her team confidence before round one, with the Adelaide Thunderbirds hosting Collingwood first up on Saturday.
"With pre-season games, it doesn't really mean anything once the season starts, but it was important for us as a team to get that winning mentality back after last year," Maloney told AAP.
"For our group, just getting back to learning how to win, what it feels like when you do win, it's been great for us.
"We know that once we hit the court on Sunday, it counts for nothing but we take some really good confidence from the pre-season and the performances we've been able to put out there."
After losing the serves of retired goalers Caitlin Thwaites and Tegan Phillip they were also hit hard by injury to Diamonds skipper Liz Watson, who missed the entire 2021 season with a foot issue.
But Watson is fit and firing while ex-Giants shooter Kiera Austin will make her first appearance after an ACL injury.
"Lizzy leaves a hole when she's not there, she's a world class player and the team definitely walks taller when she's out on court," Maloney said.
"Kiera was playing some really great netball at an international level before the injury and just like Lizzie, has worked extremely hard to get back out on court and I think she's going to really strengthen our group this year."
Maloney picked the Swifts to again challenge for the title while she also expected the Jhaniele Fowler-led West Coast Fever to be among the front-runners.
"A team with Jhaniele Fowler at the front of their attack end is always going to be tough to beat so I think they'll definitely be out there at the end and hopefully we'll be there alongside them," she said.
Swifts co-captain Maddy Proud nominated the Vixens and the Thunderbirds as a dark horse for the crown.
"I think the Thunderbirds have had all the pieces to be a really successful team for a few years and if they can gel as a group I think they're going to be pretty hard to beat," Proud told AAP.
Proud said the way the Fever were able to make the finals despite being docked 12 points for salary cap breaches showed they would also challenge.
"As club who've never won a premiership, they'll be really burning to do that and they've got a new coach so they will be one to beat for sure."
Proud was unfazed by their pre-season results given they were without coach Briony Akle due to COVID-19 protocols while shooters Sam Wallace (knee) and Helen Housby (calf) were troubled by injury.
"It's an opportunity to try some new combinations, to give our younger players some game time at this level," she said.
"We had our our team goals, our internal purpose, and while you obviously still want to be winning games we still got so much out of that weekend."
Australian Associated Press
