SEVERN Stars boss Sam Bird wants her team to continue their positive form after their first Vitality Netball Superleague win of the season in March.

Following a break for the Commonwealth Games, the campaign resumes with Stars facing Team Northumbria at Sport Central Arena, Newcastle, on Saturday (6pm).

The Worcester side finished off the first half of the season with a 66-46 victory at Scottish side UWS Sirens, having lost by just one goal in the dying seconds on two other occasions.

“It is part of my role to ensure the squad comes together again quickly to repeat the level of performance we did against Sirens,” said Bird.

“We are back to business and want to start where we left off with a convincing strong performance.”

Stars hope to take inspiration from returning international players, South Africans Phumza Maweni and Maryka Holtzhausen, and in particular England's Jodie Gibson whose gold medal boosted the squad according to Bird.

Gibson was part of the squad who triumphed against favourites Australia in a thrilling final.

“The team have been training well during the break,” said Bird.

“We have had a short rest and then resumed training, including friendly matches as part of our preparations for this phase of the Superleague season.

“It was great to beat Sirens so convincingly before the break and the 20-goal win was a result of the hard work we had put in.

"The players always knew they could perform well but it was good to see it all come together to give that extra belief in what we can do.”

Bird said they were looking forward to Saturday's match but acknowledged the side faced some challenges.

She added: “The travel is always a challenge and made harder still this week as three of our 12 have just returned from Commonwealth Games duties in Australia.

"But Jodie winning gold for England is a great boost to our squad and we are all delighted for her.”

Stars then host Loughborough Lightning at the University of Worcester Arena the following Saturday (6pm).