AFTER an action packed an entertaining opening weekend of this year’s Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) season, another round has crept up on us.

Let us take a look at what in store for fans to enjoy this weekend. Things to look out for include a Queensland Derby, and a Covid outbreak may threatened one side’s undefeated run only two rounds in.

NSW Swifts v Melbourne Vixens
Tomorrow at 5pm AEDT
Ken Rosewall Arena, Sydney

After losing the Sydney Derby last weekend, the Swifts’ will certainly not want to go 0-2, especially if it means losing to rivals the Vixens.

The Vixens on the other hand, showed glimpses of their 2020 premiership winning form last weekend against the Firebirds.

The Swifts do have one huge out this week, with star shooter Sam Wallace out for the season after suffering an ACL injury last week. Young training partner Sophie Fawns has come into the squad to replace her.

The Vixens on the other hand have an unchanged squad from last weekend’s game.

Sunshine Coast Lightning v Queensland Firebirds
Tomorrow at 6pm AEST
USC Stadium, Sunshine Coast

The Queensland derby is the second match up on the schedule tomorrow.

After both teams lost last weekend, neither side will certainly want to go 0-2, especially if it means losing to the cross state rivals.

The Lightning particularly struggled to contain Jhaniele Fowler last weekend, so will have a tough task on their hands keeping Donnell Wallam quiet.

The Firebirds on the other hand need to make more of the advantage they have in Wallam. There was a stark correlation last week between when the Vixens started to get on top of the Firebirds and when Wallam was not on the court.

Collingwood Magpies v West Coast Fever
Sunday at 2pm AEST
John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Both of these sides are coming off contrasting results last week, so this will be an interesting clash.

The Pies do have the home court advantage but are coming off a loss. They do welcome back Ash Brazill this week, will certainly help.

However, they will have to come up with a foolproof plan to counter Fowler. The poor Lightning defenders had no answers for how to combat her dominance last week, so Geva Mentor and the other Pies defenders are going to have their hands full this week.

The Fever however will be looking to build on a great win first up and keep their undefeated run in tact.

The Fever are also celebrating a milestone this weekend, with captain Courtney Bruce notching up her 100th national league game this weekend.

Adelaide Thunderbirds v GIANTS Netball
Sunday at 3:30pm ACST
Netball SA Stadium, South Australia

Although both sides had good wins last weekend, a factor outside both sides’ controls may have a huge impact on how this match pans out.

The GIANTS have been hit by a big Covid outbreak, and have struggled to find enough players to field a full squad this week. Things got so dire that the GIANTS requested the game be postponed, but the request was denied.

Among the outs for the GIANTS this week are Sophie Dwyer, Amy Parmenter and Jamie-Lee Price, so that is a huge chunk of experience and talent that is going to have to be replaced by Training Partners, which is always going to be a tough task.