Severn Stars player Lucy Harris says the team will be looking for a fast start in this weekend’s fixture as they chase another win in a bid to finish the season in the top eight.

The side face London Pulse on Sunday (June 13), a team one place above them who they lost to by just five goals back in April. Harris said the team was looking to improve on that result, and had been making use of an extra week of training due to a break in the match schedule last weekend.

“Training has been really competitive, and we are ready to take on the challenge this weekend,” said the midcourter.

“Our last game against Pulse was very close, so we are looking to convert this into points on the table this Sunday. Our starts have been slow in the past, but we have been practising setting structures in training that we can confidently execute, especially in the first five minutes of every quarter.”

This match, held at the Copperbox Arena in London, is Stars’ penultimate game of the Vitality Netball Superleague season.

“We are expecting this game to be a close one,” added Harris.

“Pulse are a good team and came out of the blocks firing at our last meeting. But, as long as everybody is doing their own job consistently, we should be on the right side of critical moments throughout the game. If we stick to task, I am confident we will get the win.

“Pulse have a dynamic and aerial defensive unit, a tall mid-court and a strong holding and rotating shooting circle. This means we will have to keep very disciplined in the attack, not allowing Pulse defenders opportunities to go out on flying interceptions.

"In defence, we will have to be tenacious and connected as a unit, from goal shooter to goal keeper, to disrupt Pulse's attack and give our shooters more opportunities to get points on the board.”

Stars return to the court looking to build on some positive performances in the last round.

The team put up a good battle against table toppers Team Bath and drastically improved the scoreline from their previous encounter against Manchester Thunder, closing in on them in the third quarter. Harris says her side are targeting two victories to end the season.

“We are really keen to end the season on a high, we've been putting the graft in at training and two wins will go a long way in making the hard work worth it," she said.

"If we are able to climb the ladder to eighth position, that will also help the club grow to achieve a higher position in the table next season, so we really are going for it on Sunday.

“It has been a steep learning curve for the team this season, but we have definitely grown closer as a group, and connections are developing throughout the court that will serve us well in these last few games and in future seasons."