THERE is no surprise Giants Netball is favoured to claim this year’s Super Netball crown.

Just rattle of the names in the Sydney team and it is loaded with international stars from the attack end to defence.

Jo Harten, Susan Pettitt and Serena Guthrie were involved in the gold medal playoff at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Kim Green is a dual World Cup champion and Bec Bulley was with the Diamonds when they claimed the 2015 world title.

This class-stacked outfit prepared by highly respected coach Julie Fitzgerald fell just short in the inaugural SN season last year when beaten in the grand final. It is a loss which is always in the back of the Giants’ mind, more so for not bringing their A-grade game to the contest.

Captain Green missed the premiership decider, sidelined after rupturing her ACL, but she is back this season and will lead the Giants against Adelaide Thunderbirds in Mile End today.

There is no bigger challenge in the game for the new-look Thunderbirds, coming off an 18-goal loss to West Coast Fever when the margin failed to reflect their fight and encouraging qualities.

Shooter Shimona Nelson showed she is a star of the future.

“If you look at the Giants, there is not a chink in their armour,” Thunderbirds coach Dan Ryan said.

“There is depth, experience and weoponary in every position and they have a lethal bench as well.

“But we are excited about the contest. We have a lot of young kids in our line-up and to be the best you have to beat the best.

“We will embrace the challenge and see what we can do against arguably the strongest team across the court. The young players are not overawed and the way they performed in the first round is indicative of what they are capable of.

“It is all about perspective and we are looking for gradual improvement from the youngsters week to week. The kids have been exposed to this level now and they are hungry to learn.”

Ryan was satisfied with the volume of entries into the goal circle against the Fever. However, he wants his side to tidy up the defensive component.

The Thunderbirds will start at long odds to conquer the Giants. But they need to bring the intensity and enthusiasm they showed against the Fever, and keep building a solid future.