Souths coach Tracey van Dal said player management would be key as the defending minor premiers target maximum points from a weekend double-header in Newcastle championship netball.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The competition essentially reaches its midpoint on Saturday with round-seven action, but only three rounds have so far been played due to wet weather.
Washed-out round two has been rescheduled for Sunday.
Lions play BNC Whanau on Saturday then face West Leagues Balance in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday.
"I need to be mindful managing the load of our [NSW] Premier League players, so we'll be trying to navigate that to make sure we have enough players of our own team on court without really the need of having to pull up players from our opens team," van Dal said.
Lions goal shooter Millie Tonkin can play Saturday but not Sunday due to her premier league commitments. Souths' other premier league players are goal attack Katelyn Stansfield and defenders Nakita Jackson and Tianna Cummings.
West also have several premier league players and will be in a similar situation. They meet Inner Glow on Saturday.
West player Tarsha Hawley and fellow Newcastle netballer Tyra Jarrett will take the court on Sunday for the Netball NSW First Nations All Stars against Giants Academy in a curtain-raiser to the Super Netball clash between Giants and Adelaide at Ken Rosewall Arena.
University play Nova and Kotara South take on Junction on Saturday. On Sunday, BNC are scheduled to battle Junction, Nova meet Tigers and Inner Glow go up against Uni.
In Super Netball, Magpies play Swifts and Fever battle Firebirds on Saturday. On Sunday, Vixens go up against Lightning and Giants host Thunderbirds.
Meanwhile, this weekend sees the first Sister city visit to Newcastle by Cobar Netball Association.
Forty-three male and female players from Cobar, aged 10 to 18, will take part in a skills clinic as well as match-play with Newcastle teams over the weekend. Officials from Cobar will also have the opportunity to enhance their skills.
MORE IN SPORT:
- Toohey's News Podcast: 'If you didn't get a spray from Joey, you weren't trying'
- Three Knights player coach Adam O'Brien thinks the Blues should consider for Origin
- Seven Days in League: Prime time for a parting cheap shot
- Jets midfielder Angus Thurgate named A-League Young Player of the Year
- Jets captain Cassidy Davis keen for more ALW games after addition of Western United
- Footy feast: Newcastle in line to host extra NRL games during FIFA Women's World Cup
- Maroons cooking up Origin ambush under new coach Billy Slater
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark: newcastleherald.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News