Final round action against Southern Saints will cap off a whirlwind eight months since the club was formed and plans are already well under way to bolster the squad in the off-season.

ACU Sovereigns will play 19/under finals in their inaugural season but for championship division, this is the final round.

Sovereigns assistant coach Kate McMahon said the team was particularly driven to sign off strong against what will be a championship division finals contender.

“We haven’t quite reached our own expectations for what we can achieve this season,” McMahon said.

“We want to win this last match of our season and have smiles on faces of all the girls as we exit the stadium.

“...We know we’re better than the results and generally need to prove to ourselves we can do it.”

Preparations have been interrupted with an ankle injury to goal defence Sanonu Robertson early in the week.

McMahon said while Robertson was unlikely to line up, Sovereigns were confident they had the depth in the versatile Laura McDonald and Ash Bradley to fill that role.

Sovereigns captain Cynna Kydd is expected to play a full game after training strong this week.

Kydd was a late withdrawal with general soreness in the warm-up last round.

The experienced goaler will be a welcome inclusion with Sovereigns yet to receive word if they will have access to Melbourne Vixens shooter for this match.

This year’s VNL season was particularly condensed to fit in clear ahead of the Netball World Cup in August.

For Sovereigns, this has meant blooding a band of new players to state league level while trying to gel combinations and build a completely new club.

McMahon said the increased speed and intensity of the VNL had taken a toll on most bodies – but they were ready for one final match.

In the 19/unders, Sovereigns will meet Saints on court two as a lead-in to their first final, also against Saints and on court two next week.

This is a chance for Sovereigns to really finetune their combinations and test plays before meeting the Saints again.

melanie.whelan@fairfaxmedia.com.au