West Coast Fever have signalled they will again be a force this Super Netball season after banking three successive wins through the Team Girls Cup in Melbourne.
And Melbourne Vixens, with Australian captain Liz Watson back in action, are the surprise packets of the three-day pre-season tournament, also unbeaten through their three matches.
The Fever on Saturday added the scalps of the Adelaide Thunderbirds and Collingwood to that of the Giants, who they beat in their opening game on Friday night.
West Coast made the preliminary final in 2021 despite starting the season on negative-12 premiership points due a salary cap breach, with their top-four appearance the third in four years.
After easily accounting for Adelaide 40-28 in their early game on Saturday, the Fever then toppled Collingwood 50-40, marking a bright start for new coach Dan Ryan, who has taken over from Stacey Marinkovich, who departed to focus full-time on the Australian Diamonds.
The Magpies had struggled in their opening clash with the Thunderbirds but overcame the Giants early on Saturday in an improved showing.
Four-time Super Netball Player of the Year Jhaniele Fowler turned in a typical dominant display for the Fever, with the Jamaican international contributing a stunning 36 points to the tally from 38 attempts.
Australian goal-keeper Courtney Bruce, the reigning Liz Ellis Diamond award winner, turned out at goal defence for the second straight match and proved equally as threatening.
The Vixens welcomed back Watson who missed the entire 2021 season with a foot injury as her team finished a distant last with only two wins throughout.
The Vixens opened their campaign on Friday night with an eight-point win over the Queensland Firebirds and then upset reigning premiers NSW Swifts 32-26 in their early Saturday game.
They then held on for a six-point win over the Sunshine Coast Lightning which wrapped up Saturday's play.
The Giants are the only team yet to register a win, suffering a one-point loss to the Thunderbirds in their third match.
