Her rivals, representing the Central Highlands region’s best, were just as determined and focused to hold The Athlete’s Foot Cup trophy aloft.

The Assuntas will tonight start their campaign for a 10th consecutive Ballarat Netball Association crown at Llanberris.

And so begins again the hot pursuit to stop them.

“Defending the Cup, we are hungrier than ever this season. We have a lot to play for,” Cann said.

“We’ve been the competition benchmark for a long time and always seem to pull together and get in happening in finals.

“We’re just so excited to get started again.”

Assuntas strength lies in its strong, decorated and near-unchanged line up each season.

Young Ballarat Pride 19/under captain Emma Ryan has been added to bolster depth alongside returning defensive aerial specialist Kate McLeod, a former Pride goal keeper.

Sharp attacker Lauren Atkinson is also back in the mix after spending last season overseas.

Sister team Dela CCs has also strengthened its roster with returned attacker Libby Purtell and goaler Sam Denouden, both former state league players.

Brown Hill Blaze – so close, so often to capturing the elusive premiership – has maintained the core of its team, and is fired up more than ever to finally chase down the title they have coveted.

Eureka will sport two teams this season in a double bid to rattle the competition.

Pride goaler Jordyn Bibby headlines the new Eureka Klassics, a combination of the club’s young and most promising up-and-coming players.

The more experienced Eureka Kellies is set on breaking into the top four. Brown Hill Storm and Sturt Diamonds have both promoted from within club ranks for exciting and talented youth.

FULL, detailed teams preview online at thecourier.com.au

OPENING ROUND DRAW:

Tonight at Llanberris, 6.40pm

Sturt Diamonds v Brown Hill Storm

Brown Hill Blaze v Eureka Kellies

Eureka Klassics v Dela CCs

Dela Assuntas, bye

TEAMS:

BROWN HILL BLAZE

2011 runner-up

Kara Hart, centre-court/defence (co-captain)

Stacey McCartin, centre-court (co-captain)

Kirsty Walsh, centre-court (co-captain)

Melanie Allen, goals/defence

Molly Boyle, centre-court/defence

Emma Burton, defence

Kate Martin, goals/centre-court

Gina McCartin, goals/centre-court

Laura McDonald, goals

Coach: Sally McLean

FINISHING runner-up last year has made Blaze more determined than ever to claim a premiership. Blaze boasts plenty of versatility in its ranks, despite the departure of experienced players Casey Frame (Echuca) and Monica Leahy (unavailable). Incoming Mell Allen and Kate Martin will add drive and can step in as goaling options. Young goalers Laura McDonald and Gina McCartin - both state league players - bring more experience this season. Blaze sports a strong, quick centre-court core of Stacey McCartin, Kirsty Walsh, Molly Boyle and Kara Hart with Boyle, Hart and Allen also able to step into the circle defence with Emma Burton.

BROWN HILL STORM

2011 preliminary finalist

Emily Atkins, goals

Tiarni Beasley, goals, centre-court

Jacqui Clifton, defence

Hollie Frew, centre-court

Hayley Munro, centre-court

Kira Payne, defence

Erin Riley, goals/defence

Sally Riley, centre-court

Brylee Schache, goals

Mikaela Sewell, centre-court/defence

Phoebe Sinnott, centre-court

Katie Williams, centre-court

Coach: Tania McKenny

SO CLOSE to a grand final last year, Storm is hungry to build and improve on its efforts. Young state league players Brylee Schache and Kira Payne bring height and enthusiasm at both ends of the court. Versatile tall Erin Riley's quick hands and sharp play should trouble opposition with experienced Ballarat Pride centre-courter Katie Williams and Sally Riley adding plenty of drive. Promoted centre-courters Hollie Frew, Mikaela Sewell and Phoebe Sinnott strengthen Storm's depth. New coach Tania McKenny is spoilt for options.

DELA ASSUNTAS

2011 premiers

Cindy Daniel, captain

Lauren Atkinson

Melissa Beaston

Georgia Cann

Johanna Dash

Brianna Elliott

Emma Farrell

Kate McLeod

Lauren Quinlan

Emma Ryan

Coach: Amanda Clarke

POWERHOUSE Dela Assuntas will seek to extend its premier league reign to a 10th consecutive premiership. Talented young defender Emma Ryan joins Assuntas' ranks after a strong season in the Victorian Netball League 19/unders. Ryan should make a formidable defensive combination with former state league goal keeper Kate McLeod, who returns from overseas travel. Sharp centre-courter Lauren Atkinson is also back in the line-up from overseas travel and steps on court from Ballarat Pride's state league season. Long-serving premiership captain Amanda Clarke will coach the line-up this season.

DELA CCs

2011 semi-finalist

Sarah Dowell, defence (captain)

Libby Purtell, centre-court (vice-captain)

Olivia Browning, goals/defence

Sam Denouden, goals

Eboni Knights, goals/defence

Kelly Moran, goals/defence

Katherine O'Dwyer, goals/centre-court

Narelle Perkins, defence

Erin Richardson, centre-court

Coach: Gary Cooke

Former Ballarat Pride players Libby Purtell and Sam Denouden will seek to quickly work their way back into this Dela outfit after time off the court. Both will be valuable assets in attack. Captain Sarah Dowell, key tall Kelly Moran and centre-courter Erin Richardson are the only returning players from last season. Moran and Dowell will add valuable experience and make a big impact on court. Dela CCs must settle quickly but boasts enough experience to really rattle the competition as a major contender.

EUREKA KELLIES

Katie Lindkvist, defence (co-captain)

Eleanor Van Dyk, centre-court (co-captain)

Chelsea Burns, centre-court

Stephanie Burns, goals

Mallory Doyle, goals

Adrienne Harris, defence

Kellie O'Neil, goals

Sarah Thorpe, centre-court

Monica Van Dyk, centre-court

Coach: Wilma Oomen

SEASONED defender Katie Lindkvist and centre-court dynamo Eleanor Van Dyk are ready to lead the Kellies' charge after a strong pre-season. The team combination is starting to settle after a few seasons together. Goaler Steph Burns is in good form and should form a sharp rotation in the circle with the height of Kellie O'Neil and the versatility of Mallory Doyle. Newcomer Chelsea Burns will add speed to the centre-court with Monica Van Dyk, bolstered by a solid defence of Katie Lindkvist, Adrienne Harris and Eleanor Van Dyk.

EUREKA KLASSICS

NEW

Jordyn Bibby, goals (captain)

Emily Compton, centre-court

Amy Conroy, defence

Maddie Dalton, centre-court

Rebecca Maroney, defence

Nicole O'Brien, goals/defence

Katie Sutton, centre-court

Stephanie Watson, goals

Coach: Jenni Nicholls

KLASSICS will be the new and youngest team in the Cup this season - and rivals are warned not to be complacent. The team is spearheaded by state league goaler Jordyn Bibby, who is in strong form. New to Ballarat, Maddie Dalton, Stephanie Watson and Rebecca Maroney arrive in town with state league and western district academy exposure. Watson will form a tall and athletic goaling combination with Bibby. Dalton, Katie Sutton and Emily Compton will create fast attacking drive through the centre-court. Maroney will step into the circle defence alongside Conroy and both are known for their intercept work. Versatile rebounder Nicole O'Brien can swap seamlessly between both circles.

STURT DIAMONDS

Laura Allan (captain)

Amanda Guthrie (captain)

Jaime Palmer, centre-court

Stacey Rea, centre-court

Emma Simpson, defence

Coach: Sue Allan

DEFENDER Emma Simpson and centre-courter Stacey Rea have been promoted for a taste of premier league with the Diamonds this season.

Jaime Palmer, back from talent squad training, will inject speed through the centre. List fine-tuning and waits for player confirmations means Sturt's roster is not finalised leading into the season opener. The Diamonds have reduced numbers early in the season due to university placement commitments but are likely to employ a rotation system to field the best available players to be competitive.