The Crinums head into the next phase of the competition as the only unbeaten side in the tournament, but despite their dominant start, the Free Staters believe there is still plenty more to come from the squad.

Their performances during the opening Power Week in Durban were impressive, with the team showing consistency, composure, and defensive steel throughout. However, the Crinums know the challenge is only going to get tougher from here.

Karla Victor. Photo: Netball SA

During the break between Power Weeks, rival teams would have spent plenty of time analysing the unbeaten Free Staters, while several sides are also expected to welcome back key players who have been competing in overseas leagues.

That means the Crinums will need to find another gear if they want to stay ahead of the chasing pack as the intensity of the competition begins to heat up.

Crinums star and Junior Protea, Karla Victor, told OFM Sport that the team is determined to keep setting the standard in the league.

“Heading into the second leg of TNL, I think the team is really feeling positive and excited,” she said.

“The first leg went really well for us, and obviously, going unbeaten gave us a lot of confidence as a team. But at the same time, we know there is still a lot of room for improvement, and we've really been focusing on fixing the small things and tweaking certain areas from the first leg to make sure we keep growing and improving as a unit.

“I also think the second leg is going to be really important and really tough because after the first leg, every team went back and worked on the areas where they felt they could improve as well.

Liamé de Lange and Karla Pretorius. Photo: Netball SA

“So we know the teams are going to come back stronger and come hard at us, especially because we went unbeaten in the first leg. That’s something we’ve spoken about as a team – we need to raise our standards even more and make sure we’re ready for that challenge.

“The vibe in the team has been really good. Everyone is motivated, we’ve been working hard, and we’re excited for the second leg that’s coming up.”

Victor added the return of Proteas legend and captain Karla Pretorius has taken the squad to another level, with the experienced defender continuing to inspire the younger players in the camp.

“Having Karla Pretorius back on court is honestly amazing – her presence is something special and difficult to explain,” Victor said about her namesake.

“If you haven’t played with her before, the way she leads on court, the calmness she brings, her communication, and the standards she sets really lift the entire team. I think everyone can see that when we take the court.

“She is such an incredible leader, and having someone with all her experience and energy in the team is really valuable for us. It’s a huge privilege and honour playing with such an icon. “So it’s great to have her back.”

The Crinums will open their second Power Week campaign on Saturday at 19:00 when they take on the Jaguars at the Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek sm