A DOUBLE header at Melbourne Arena on Saturday, May 2 will open the 2020 Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season.

The huge first round of action sees a number of tantalising clashes, with back-to-back matches in Victoria and a Grand Final rematch the next day. The round begins with Melbourne Vixens taking on last year’s wooden spooners Queensland Firebirds with Kate Eddy potentially making her Vixens’ debut, while Ine-Mari Venter could line-up against her old side.

In the second game, Collingwood Magpies host West Coast Fever with the Fever retaining its 2019 list, while the Magpies will be looking to youth following pregnancy departures of April Brandley and Kim Ravaillion. New Magpies’ recruit Jodi-Ann Ward will potentially line-up in the same circle as Jamaican teammate, Jhaniele Fowler in the clash.

The early afternoon game on Sunday is a grand final rematch between NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning. Both these teams have remained fairly stable from their successful 2019 seasons, though the Lightning will be keen to seek some early revenge on the reigning premiers. The reigning premiers will no doubt want to celebrate their premiership against the team they conquered.

In the final game of the round, Adelaide Thunderbirds host GIANTS Netball, with the Thunderbirds likely to have a very different goal circle given the inclusion of Lenize Potgieter and the departure of Maria Folau. The GIANTS are fairly similar to the year before, but will miss Kim Green who retired at the end of the season.

The remainder of the SSN fixture will be released on Friday.