Watch live on Sky Sports Arena or SS Mix on Saturday - South Africa v Australia (3.15pm) and England v New Zealand (5.45pm)
Saturday 20 January 2018 19:15, UK
England head into the final Quad Series before the Commonwealth Games with plenty to feel positive about.
The Roses will face Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and will be aiming to clinch their first title.
With victories over the Diamonds and the Silver Ferns in the last 12 months, Tracey Neville's side looked to have cut that gap between themselves and the top-two ranked sides in the world.
Ahead of the start of the series on Saturday, when the Proteas play Australia before England face New Zealand at the Copper Box Arena in the Olympic Park, former England captain Pamela Cookey and Tamsin Greenway talk to Sky Sports about the significance of the series.
Pamela - This is the last time the teams will be playing internationally before the Commonwealth Games, so it is really important.
It will be a chance for the coaches and the teams to start looking at combinations and start thinking who their final 12s will be to represent their countries.
Tamsin - We are going to see England, Australia and New Zealand at their very best and the Roses will have in their sights beating one of those two.
This is the last shot for all four teams to play against each other before the Commonwealth Games, so it is going to tell a real story about where people are at and how they are going to perform in April.
Tamsin - It is a really strong squad. Ninety per cent of that team are going to go to the Commonwealth Games but there are still a few places to play for and that is where it is interesting. Who is going to fight and pick up those spots?
Obviously, it's a big loss not having Jo Harten but she will be doing everything she can to be on that plane and England will be doing the same as well.
They will not want to go to the Commonwealth Games without her. She is the best shooter England have got and she is a winner. A World Cup wouldn't be the same without her.
Pamela - It is a very strong squad. Jo is not in it due to a knee injury but other than that you are seeing a very strong and experienced England side.
They have chosen 14 players, so there are a couple of people who won't get to be on that plane [for the Commonwealth Games] but it is a chance for Tracey to see all the players in action, see them perform at that top level and see who she think will be ready to go.
Pamela - It is probably down to the players playing top level Netball as they have been playing their competitive netball in Australia and New Zealand.
Having week in, week out competitions against the best players in the world has definitely helped improve the English players.
Tamsin - This current Roses side is one of the best teams we have ever had. There is a lot of experience in the side and playing out in Australia and New Zealand has been invaluable for those players too.
It has helped increase the level they play at and the investment that has gone into the Roses side in the last few years and the change from moving from a semi-professional era to fully professional has helped.
Tamsin - There is an argument that you do not want to give too much away [about your play] as this is your last shot against these teams before you hit them in the Games.
I am sure Tracey will want to get some players out there who have not had a lot of exposure but when you are at home you want to be putting in a good performance in front of your home crowd.
If they did win it would fill them with a lot of confidence but you would then the scalp that everyone would want to take so it is kind of a catch 22. It would be really nice to win the quad series but I would rather lose this and go on to win the Commonwealth Games.
Pamela - This is definitely a chance for them to win it with the squad they have. You never go on court thinking you will lose but having those wins under your belt just before you go into the Commonwealth Games gives you a boost and lift, knowing that you have done it before.
It is all well and good thinking about it (winning) but having done it makes a tremendous difference. On any given day anything could happen, so it is about taking what you have learnt and making sure if they do win the Quad Series, they repeat it again at the Commonwealth Games.
Pamela - Geva Mentor. She was the player of the year in the Super Netball League last season. If she is on form for England they really can do some great things in the defensive end to give the shooters up the other end more opportunity.
She comes out for intercepts for fun, she reads the game so well and from the back she gives the confidence to the rest of her team. She's always talking to them, always supporting them and her own game play is tremendous.
Tamsin - Serena Guthrie is outstanding, she is one of the best players in the world and for me, it is her time to shine as a leader for this group.
We have all seen her get passionate in games and this is her opportunity ahead of the Commonwealth Games to play in the Quad Series as a real leader.
Tamsin - South Africa are the dark horses and captain Bongiwe Msomi was absolutely outstanding in the last Quad Series and was one of the main reasons South Africa beat England.
I'm intrigued to see how she is leading her team and to see if there have been more improvements in that side and if they are going to be real contenders when it comes round to the Games.
Pamela - Courtney Bruce played really well for Australia in the last Quad Series when Sharni Layton was rested/recovering.
Sharni is back in the squad this time around so it will be interesting to see if she gets her place back or Bruce keeps the GK position.
You can follow all the action from the opening Quad Series of 2018 - coverage begins on Saturday from 3.15pm with South Africa against Australia, followed by England v New Zealand at 5.15pm on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Action
