South African netball player Shadine Van Der Merwe says that the Proteas are not going to the Netball World Cup for a holiday.

The team will open their campaign against Trinidad and Tobago in Liverpool, England on Friday night (kick-off 6:05pm). She says the fifth ranked Proteas will be gunning for a medal at the global showpiece.

The Proteas will also play against Fiji in their second match on Saturday. They will finish their pool matches against Jamaica on Sunday. Van Der Merwe says the Jamaicans will be their biggest threat.

The Proteas did well in the Quad Series in England early in the year, losing to world champions Australia.

They then took fourth ranked team New Zealand to extra time but eventually lost, and then beating the Commonwealth champions and third ranked team England. She says their confidence will be sky high.

Most South African teams disappointed in international events in recent weeks. The hope will now be on the Springboks rugby team and the Proteas themselves.

She is confident they will make the country proud. – Report by Vincent Sitsula