National teammates are set to become inner-city rivals when the second instalment of Super Netball kicks off with the derby clash in Melbourne on Saturday.
Having roomed together during the Australian Diamonds' Commonwealth Games campaign, Collingwood Magpies shooter Caitlin Thwaites and Melbourne Vixens defender Jo Weston will put friendship aside as they look to start the new season on a winning note.
"I think we are getting pretty used to being able to do that (where) we are friends one day and enemies the next," Thwaites told the media on Thursday.
"I think that white line fever comes into it and the fact that you respect your teammates and respect your opposition very highly, I think we just go about our business."
"It's very similar to when we play scrimmage internally when we are at Diamonds squad camps in terms of playing against the best of the best," Weston added.
"Although we are teammates there, you are always looking to put your best foot forward."
Saturday's game at Hisense Arena will be the third clash between the clubs with the Vixens winning both meetings during the inaugural Super Netball season.
"Netball has always been very strong in Victoria so to have (the derby) as the opening game of the Super Netball season is going to be really great," Weston said.
The Vixens claimed the minor premiership last season but lost twice in the finals, including a one-point loss to eventual champions Sunshine Coast Lightning.
"We were disappointed with how the season ended up last year," Weston said about the Vixens' early finals exit.
"We had a hard look at it in review of last year and at the start of our preseason but I think we have learned a lot from that especially because the main body of our playing group is quite young."
Having qualified for the semi-finals in their debut season, Thwaites expects the Magpies to keep improving as they gain more experience as a team.
"To set our baseline of making semi-finals, I think that was a great place to start," she said.
"We are really looking at building on that but the fact we have had a lot more time together as a team and to be out there and problem solve on the court together ... just having a lot more time to work through some of this stuff has been a good thing for us."
