Amid the clamour to hail Collingwood as the Super Netball standout before Saturday's historic three-state series of opening round derbies, the Melbourne Vixens have received some unexpected support from north of the border, via rival Sydney captains Kim Green and Abbey McCulloch.

Women's sport is on the verge of a new era in Australia with the start of Suncorp Super Netball.

Shannon O’Connor will make her Australian Netball League return in Canberra's season opener against NSW.

Swifts shooter Helen Housby is one of 16 imports who will play in this season's Super Netball competition.

The tune is that famous one we all know, the words already learnt and rehearsed a few times during the pre-season. Good old Collingwood is new Collingwood in a netball sense, and the overwhelming expectation - and, in some cases, fear - that the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball premiership will indeed be a cakewalk will be tested for the first time on Saturday night.

Caitlin Thwaites has played netball for the two biggest teams in Australia, the NSW Swifts and Melbourne Vixens, and is now part of the most powerful sporting club in the land. When asked about the difference in "the Collingwood way", Thwaites quoted coach Kristy Keppich-Birrell, whose message to her Diamond-studded line-up is: "You can dream big here".

Here are some key things you need to know about as you settle in with a beverage of your choice on Saturday nights to watch some of the best athletes in the world battle it out.

Optimism, anticipation, bold declarations and Channel Nine celebrities in active wear were all in abundance as Netball Australia's new national league was officially launched to a grand Sydney Harbour backdrop.

The Giants and Swifts clash in an opening-round blockbuster to kick start the Super Netball competition.

Cricket's Big Bash League flogs them. In the A-League, they prove to be among the highlights of each season. And they were once a mainstay of the National Basketball League in Melbourne.

Susan Pettitt's has turned her focus to Saturday's Super Netball season opener after her Australian recall.

Former coaching partners Julie Fitzgerald and Rob Wright are up against each other in Australia's new netball league.

Women's sporting codes are in intense competition for talent, but ultimately, the fans will win.

Shannon O'Connor, Georgia Clayden and Leigh Kalsbeek will represent the ACT for the Canberra Giants this season.

Australia have retained the netball Quad Series after a hard-fought 47-46 victory over England at Wembley to finish the tournament undefeated.

Netball ACT boss Adam Horner confident new Australian Netball League structure will lead to greater opportunities.

Former Australian netball captain Sharelle McMahon has joined the AFL Women's match review panel for its inaugural season, which starts on Friday night.

Australia have comfortably beaten hosts South Africa to remain undefeated from two matches in the international netball quad series.

The Giants launched their football and netball seasons on Monday night ahead of this weekend's AFL women's opener.