02 March 2020

Surrey Storm head coach Mikki Austin believes 'there's no better time to be involved in netball'

Surrey Storm netballer and head coach Mikki Austin says 'there's no better time to be involved in netball' as her side head into round two of the Vitality Superleague.

The 26 year-old signed for the side in 2015 and was part of the squad which won the title in both 2015 and 2016. And two years later she was appointed the role as head coach.

"There's no better time to be involved in netball than right now, it's so prevalent and at the forefront of a lot of conversations," Austin told Sky Sports.

"Also, being a female in sport, that conversation is so prevalent nowadays too. If there ever was a time to take an opportunity like this, then it's now."

Storm finished in eighth place after her first season in charge and in the first round of their 2020 campaign they lost 44-43 to Wales' only professional side Celtic Dragons.

But they now head into the second round of the competition where they face London Pulse at home.

Ahead of the game, Austin said: "With all teams this year, I think that you have to take them on face value.

"I think we're quite evenly matched as two teams so I think it will be a really good game. I think they're going to come out firing and want to start the game pretty strongly.

"We don't need to be perfect right now, that's not the aim of the exercise. The aim of the exercise is to slowly improve every single week and then come July, we can have a conversation about where we are.

"As long as we focus on those marginal gains as opposed to being overawed by the bigger picture, hopefully we'll just continue to build and build every game, every season."

And with the Superleague in a more exciting position than ever, Austin believes that any team can win on the day.

"This year, one thing that makes our league even more exciting than it ever has been, is that every team has got the calibre and the power of players to deliver on their day.

"I don't think people should be that surprised anymore that there are teams that run others quite close because your name now doesn't really stand for anything. Any team, on the day if you don't perform, will beat you," she added.

Surrey Storm face London Pulse this evening at 7pm.

The best videos delivered daily

Watch the stories that matter, right from your inbox