The International Netball Federation has been looking closely at an international test series set to take place in January 2021 as a litmus test for the safe return of international netball in 2021.
The four-match series, which pits the third-ranked England Vitality Roses against the fourth-ranked Jamaica Sunshine Girls, will be the first international netball competition in England since January 2020.
It has followed a heavily disrupted netball season calendar, where after donning the netball vests for a four-way test series in January between the Roses, the New Zealand Silver Ferns, the Sunshine Girls and the South Africa SPAR Proteas; four of the five top-ranked teams in World Netball.
Not long after this, the Covid-19 pandemic caused a halt not only to netball but several other sports at the international level.
Netball would finally make its international return in October when the Roses and Silver Ferns faced each other in a three-match test series over in New Zealand.
This is the second test for the viability of Covid-safe netball and is taking place under extensive safety and medical protocols.
It will take place behind closed doors, sanitation protocols will be in place and the Sunshine girls will undergo a period of isolation in accordance with UK safety regulations before taking to the court.
The series, named the Vitality Netball Legends Series, commemorates the players that are currently making their mark on the international stage and will move to the autumn after this initial edition.
The teams are playing for the Jean Hornsby Cup, named after the legendary trailblazing netball player.