The Guernsey girls will be battling eight other teams in the Open Play-offs for next season’s South Division Three, with only one direct qualifying spot available at the University of Brighton’s Falmer Campus.
Panthers failed to make the cut last year having last campaigned at this level during the Covid-shortened season of 2019-20.
They instead made their return to regular off-island matches within a new and developmental CD Phoenix Regional League, where they placed sixth overall after winning four matches from 14 played.
Squad captain Charlotte Hill has welcomed great commitment from her team leading up to the decisive qualifier.
‘The last four weeks we’ve been really focused and we’ve had so many players available for selection,’ she said.
‘It means there has been a real competitiveness and everybody has had to step up and train hard – work for their space, which is good.
‘We should really be going into this confident.
‘Hopefully we can get the result that we want – it would be amazing to be back in the league.’
She admitted that last year’s attempt to qualify had been a ‘late decision’ and that they had struggled with players on holiday or otherwise unavailable.
But competing in the development league seems to have served its purpose, with Hill happy to see them holding their own even against sides that included players from the main league stepping down.
‘There’s so many positives,’ she said.
‘We had some really good wins where we were really working as a unit – it has been really good for our confidence.’
They have also played the Royal Navy – even picking up a win in the final match – and have been reviewing footage from games.
The squad of 11 selected for the qualifiers consists mainly of familiar players from their latest regional campaign but also draws on the strengths of shooter Clare Henry, mid-courter Amy Le Tocq and defender Anna Fazakerley.
But it will without doubt be a highly demanding day of netball, with Guernsey facing all eight opposing teams in a span of just over six hours over intense 2x7min. games.
‘You’ve got to get up and get playing and go,’ Hill added.
‘There’s no room to make huge errors.’
Team for Open Play-offs: Charlotte Hill (C), Ella Staples (VC), Kerys Chamberlain, Anna Fazakerley, Erin Sullivan, Abbie Greening (replaces Bryony de Garis due to injury), Jaymee-Leigh Weysom, Amy Le Tocq, Eva Bourgaize, Taylor Callanan, Clare Henry.
Coaches: Nena Ellis, Naomi Szmierek, Kirsty Bourgaize.
