All the players, management teams, and officials will be entering the bio-bubble in Bloemfontein on Thursday and until the tournament starts in a weeks’ time they will be hard at work training.

Coach of the Crinums, Burta de Kock, told OFM Sport that there is a buzz in the air.

“We are close to 'go' and ready to rock ‘n roll.

“We are happy to have the MEC with us as she will be handing over Crinum tops and jackets, so we look forward to that.

“Thursday evening all of the players from across South Africa will be entering the bubble.

“There are two training venues, one at the Boet Troskie at CUT, and the other at the Free State Academy at the FSSSI. Up to Tuesday, we will be training and them the games will begin.

“We are looking forward and very excited. The girls are ready and looking forward. They are over-excited.

“We underwent our Covid tests and we all hope that we will be negative.”

The champions, the Gauteng Jaguars, will be facing the North West Flames in the opening game at the Mangaung Indoor Sports Centre.

First two days fixtures:

14 October

9:00 - Gauteng Jaguars vs North West Flames

11:00 - KZN Kingdom Stars vs Free State Crinums

13:00 - Eastern Cape Aloes vs Tornados

15:00 - WC Southern Stings vs Gauteng Golden Fireballs

17:00 - Kingdom Queens vs Limpopo Baobabs

15 October 

8:00 - Gauteng Golden Fireballs vs Free State Crinums

10:00 - Northern Cape Diamonds vs Mpumalanga Sunbirds

12:00 - WC Southern Stings vs North West Flames

15:00 - KZN Kingdom Stars vs Gauteng Jaguars

17:00 - Limpopo Baobabs vs Eastern Cape Aloes

@MorganPiek OFM Sport