Cavaliers are adamant the second-wave preseason has only further hardened the resolve to come out stronger ahead in the crosstown derby with Northern Hawks.
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"To be honest, it's probably not going to make it tougher," Cavaliers coaching director Dannie Carstens said.
"Everyone's had the same hiccups, so I don't think it's any less advantageous going for the back-to-back double."
Cavaliers have prepared during the four-month hiatus like state government playing bans would be lifted any time soon.
Carstens has sent out an ominous warning the squad will come out stronger than for the opening rounds.
State League players were forced to train in pairs until small groups resumed while practising safe distancing.
"One of the things that is a really strong value of ours is your own personal fitness," she said.
"We pride ourselves on being the fittest and quickest - that is what we aspire.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
"There's that expectation from everyone that if you're away from the netball court that you just have to keep that personal level of fitness up."
The readjustment is hard to grasp for players that are expected to be rusty ahead of the Saturday lunchtime game at the Silverdome.
Co-coach Ruth Tuohy felt the Hawks could not have come in better prepared in the grand final rematch.
"One of our players that hadn't commenced the season said it's been the whole 11 months since she's taken to the court," Tuohy said.
"For us, we are just going into the game recognising we commenced the season, got two games in, our next game was against Cavs and we're now picking up from where we left off with two wins."
But the atmosphere will not have the usual derby feel.
Little more than 150 spots will be reserved for diehard fans in accordance to firm state government restrictions on indoor sport, with names already left on the door.
"We've talked about the fact it's great it's a home game, but it's going top have a slightly different feel for it given we are not going to have the crowd," Tuohy said.
"It's always one of the biggest games for a crowd, so it will have a different feel to it.
"The team that adjusts the quickest will get into their strategy better and is probably going to end up winning."
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Andrew Mathieson
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
The day I realised I wasn't good enough to play for St Kilda or be the No.1 spinner for Australia was when I realised journalism was the closest I could come to follow my passion for sport. And it's not just about the scores for me. It's the back story behind the game.
