Pride’s 18-round fixture features three Wendouree-based home games and starts with an explosive first round match against one of the league’s toughest clubs at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on February 22.

UB Ballarat Pride assistant coach Daniel Cooke said Ariels had acquired ANL-experienced players Sophie O’Shae and Caitlyn Strachan.

It means Pride will have a hard hit-out first up, in what Cooke believes will be an opportunity to come out of the blocks fast.

“is a very big challenge coming up ... it lets us know where we are,” Cooke said.

Following the opening round, Pride faces Geelong Cougars at the Wendouree Sports and Events Centre on March 3 in the first of three home games.

Matches against North East Blaze on April 28 and Peninsula Waves on May 26 will also be played at Wendouree this season.

Cooke said the second round match with Geelong was the first in a series with win potential for Pride.

“Those first four games are pretty crucial for us,” he said.

Cooke said he was pleased with the progress of the Pride squad, which played its second round of pre-season matches at the State Netball and Hockey Centre on Wednesday night.

Pride lost its first match against City West Falcons by 20 goals, which deployed weapon Kathleen Knott.

Cooke said Pride’s second match with Monash University Central saw them miss out by just five, with both ends of the court holding up their sides.

“I’m extremely pleased with the effort they showed,” Cooke said. “The next two weeks we’re working on some combinations. We’ve got 11 fairly strong girls who are all pushing for spots.

“We have not won a game at championship for a very long time and I want them to go out there and be working on things we are focused on.

“The positive, internal attitude will eventually get the reward.”