SEVERN Stars shooter Paige Reed has acknowledged her side are up against it on Monday when they face high-flying Saracens Mavericks in the Vitality Netball SuperLeague (5.15pm tip).
Reed accepts her side will tip-off as underdogs but insist she and the rest of her teammates will not back down from the challenge.
Stars have had a difficult start to their 2021 season, winning just one of their opening seven league fixtures but Reed suggests there is more importance on performances over results at this early stage of the season.
“We are definitely underdogs which isn't a bad thing at all,” she said.
“We have nothing to lose and we aren't going to back down to anyone in this league. Placings in the table at the moment aren't relevant, it’s early days.
“As players in a competitive environment of course it’s frustrating to lose games but we are progressing each session and game and that’s all we ask for from each other.”
Monday's opponents Saracens Mavericks have enjoyed a strong start to the 2021 campaign. They began with season with two wins against Surrey Storm and Leeds Rhinos before being beaten comfortably by Loughborough Lightning in their only defeat so far.
They comprehensively defeated bottom-of-the-table Celtic Dragons earlier in March, followed by a draw with Strathclyde Sirens.
They were 39-32 victors over London Pulse last weekend and head into their clash with Stars on Monday full of confidence.
Stars' only win so far this season came against Surrey Storm earlier this month, but have been beaten in all of their other six games.
Despite coming close against league newcomers Leeds Rhinos on Monday, Stars were unable to claw back a four-goal advantage the opponents had established in the second quarter, leading to a 42-38 loss.
Reed believes the side want to prove a point after the disappointing result against Leeds.
“I think the Mavericks game is very important for us,” said Reed.
“It's a chance to continue to keep building and to rectify our wrongs. We are putting pressure on each other, but also ourselves.
“Mavericks are a very strong side with talented individuals throughout the court, however we need to focus on their strength as units, for example defensively. We know they work well together in the circle so we need to combat this and cause a bit of a headache in there for them.
"We must ensure we go out hard from the start and not take our foot off the gas.”
The match against Saracens Mavericks on Monday starts at 5.15pm and is live on Sky Sports.
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