HEAD coach Mo’onia Gerrard says she is happy for Severn Stars to take the “underdog tag” in their debut Vitality Superleague campaign.

The University of Worcester Arena professional netball side begin their first season with a trip to defending champions Surrey Storm today (7pm).

The eagerly-awaited evening encounter at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford, will also end more than four months of preparation for Stars who launched last summer.

Gerrard says she is excited to see her players “make history” for the Worcester-based club and hopes they can get off to a positive start.

“(Assistant coach) Sam Bird, the other coaches and I have been preparing for this moment for just over four months now,” she said.

“I am excited for the club and the girls who are going to make history playing in the first-ever game for Severn Stars.

“I am sure every team wants to have a positive result in the first round.

“But what I want is for the players to be really competitive as a group and the only way we can do that is by getting the individuals in the team to give everything they have got for each other on the court.”

Fellow new franchise Wasps are 5-2 favourites with SkyBet to win the regular season, while Manchester Thunder, Surrey and Team Bath are also tipped to make strong challenges for the title.

But Gerrard, who won 68 caps for Australia, believes it is difficult to predict who will finish in the top four.

“From what I hear and the frontage I have seen there is an even spread of teams out there so it will be a really competitive season,” she said.

“I guess the history in the competition gives Surrey an advantage in terms of how long they have been together as a franchise and they have got systems in place. But I am happy to take the underdog tag.

“We have expectations of ourselves individually and as a team but in terms of people looking in from the outside they won’t know what to expect from us.

“I prefer to be under the radar and come out and bite you on the butt.”

England international Laura Malcolm, 25, will hope to overcome an ankle problem to lead the team after being appointed Stars’ skipper.

Josie Janz-Dawson is vice-captain with Iona Darroch and Sophie Carter also part of Gerrard’s leadership team.

“Everyone was in contention (for the captaincy) but we just needed to nut out who would be suitable,” she added.

“Laura gets along with all types of people within the group and is a person who best fits that leadership role.

“She not only has ability but is very competitive and hard on herself in terms of how she wants to perfect what she is doing.

“We felt as a management group she would grow in the role and expand as a person at the same time.”