Blaze operations manager Rachel Piastri said her players were not fazed by what awaited them at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre - Blaze planned to serve up its best game in the Victorian Netball League clash.

"From a total club perspective we're really excited," Piastri said.

"We know there's going to be a huge Ballarat crowd there and we're looking forward to the atmosphere.

"We know it's going to be very loud and not so supportive of Blaze, but we don't mind being the underdogs."

UB Ballarat Pride players will gather in team units away from the court this afternoon before hitting the court.

Pride does not get a chance to show its game in town often.

They want to be focused and fired-up.

Tonight marks the first of two home games this VNL season.

Pride will host traditional rival North East Blaze, which, like Pride, is established from a netball association and built mostly from its own stable of players.

There are rumours that Blaze will bus its own strong supporter contingent, ready to challenge Pride at crowd level - a fact Piastri would neither confirm nor deny.

Ballarat Pride head coach Jo Dash has urged the region's netball fans to turn out in force.

"We need to get Ballarat people fired up," Dash said.

"They want to challenge us on the court and in the crowd.

"If they're prepared to bus supporters to the game it's all very good for the VNL and good for Ballarat tourism.

"They will really add to the atmosphere."

There is an unknown element to tonight's encounter.

Pride and Blaze met in championship and division one pre-season cup action but plenty has changed since then.

Sharp-shooters Catherine Maika and Georgia Cann are both sidelined for Pride and teams are fine-tuning their combinations.

But Pride knows enough about Blaze to know it will be tough.

Blaze has retained its championship line-up and goalers Melissa McCauley and Stacey Gannon are already in stellar form, shooting at mid-80 per cent accuracy in the opening round.