They were the competition pace-setters last year but Souths coach Tracey van Dal is taking nothing for granted as the Newcastle championship netball minor premiers eye a new-look Inner Glow in round one at National Park on Saturday.
Lions' only squad change has been the loss of midcourter Zoe Peden while Inner Glow have a number of new faces for their third season in the Newcastle competition.
New Inner Glow coach Helen Grogan expected to have a full complement of players available while van Dal said Souths could be light on numbers.
She said midcourter Narelle Eather, goal attack Katelyn Stansfield and defender Laura Neale were available for the whole game and would bring stability to each third.
But goal circle defenders Tianna Cummings and Georgia King are in doubt through illness, goal shooter Millie Tonkin is also potentially unable to play and a couple may be limited to half games.
"Inner Glow pushed some top teams all the way last year and they are a team to be wary of, so we need to be putting out a good performance or a team like this will make us come undone," van Dal said.
Inner Glow were fifth last year and Grogan expected Souths to give a gauge of how their season was shaping up.
"We've been training really well," Grogan said. "We've been working hard on the transition from defence to attack over the last few weeks and there's been a marked increase and improvement in what they're doing."
Kotara South take on Wests Leagues Balance, University of Newcastle meet BNC Whanau and Nova Thunder tussle with Junction Stella. All games are at 3.45pm.
In Super Netball this weekend, Swifts play Vixens and Sunshine Coast go up against Queensland Firebirds on Saturday. On Sunday, Collingwood meet West Coast and Adelaide take on Giants.
