WATCH: Guernsey's netballers prepare for first 'Island Games' experience

The women’s team are set to travel to the Isle of Man this weekend and will open against the hosts next Tuesday, the first in a five-match series that will be the biggest senior target since Covid. It has been likened to an Island Games for netball.

Abby McCracken is one of the three players who will be leading the senior team, alongside Donna Brehaut and Zola Saunders.

Having attended the final training camp over the weekend, she told the Guernsey Press Sport Podcast that the squad is ‘really excited’ and highlighted how much of a boost the ‘Invitational Island Games’ have provided.

‘We need it, and it will be really good for our youth coming into it,’ she said.

‘So obviously going forward, I think it will be really good.’

McCracken welcomed the mix of experienced players and U19s, who bring youth and extra fitness to the squad.

But she does not expect easy going against the opposition, namely Isle of Man, Orkney, Jersey development, Shetland and Ynys Mon. Jersey are the only familiar rivals.

• Watch: Tony Curr spoke to Guernsey head coach Sally Carns at their final training camp ahead of the tournament

‘It’s going to be tough and we just need to go out there and play our game, not go too fast,’ she added.

‘We like to play really fast netball, so we just need to slow it down because we won’t be able to do that going through the whole week.

‘But I think it will be good. We’ve got loads of combinations that we can work with.’

Panthers head coach Sally Carns is hopeful her team can push for some wins.

In her role, Carns hopes to make the most of live-streaming to learn about the opposition.

‘We’ll be able to watch those from a coaching point of view and really evaluate what our best squad and what our best seven to put up against those teams is and hopefully then push for some wins over the week.

‘But as long as the girls enjoy it, the girls perform, we stay injury-free and we know that we can compete at that level, that’s really what it’s about for me.’

Guernsey will also send a men’s team, who will be playing two exhibition matches against the Isle of Man.

One takes place on the evening of Friday 10 November and the next on Saturday morning, just after the women wrap up their campaign.

Guernsey women’s squad

Donna Brehaut, Becky Chamberlain, Olivia Cotterill, Tillie Graham, Abbie Greening, Rose Haysom, Viviane Kemgne, Abby McCracken, Louise Pinchemain, Zola Saunders, Sophie Taylor, Vicky Yabsley.

Schedule

Tuesday 7 November - Isle of Man (6pm)

Wednesday 8 November - Orkney (2pm)

Thursday 9 November - Jersey development (2pm)

Friday 10 November - Shetland (2pm)

Saturday 11 November - Ynys Mon (9am)