Draycott start the defence of their Women’s British League title against Premier Division newcomers Knighton Park this weekend.

The champions have lost Emma Vickers and Abbie Milwain from last year’s winning line-up, but this years personnel – Evie Collier, Inta Zdanovska and Kate Cheer – still look strong.

Their first opponents were promoted from Division One in place of Draycott’s second team, who won the league but were precluded from promotion into the same division as their firsts. Knighton’s line-up will have a familiar look, with Karen Smith, Lesley Keast, Rosemary Rainton and Alkisti Olympiou all returning.

For Draycott’s part, they are likely to mix and match with their seconds (Diana Rusinova, Nicole Bird, Gauri Duhan, Amy Humphreys) to give all a chance to play in the top flight.

The first weekend takes place at the Jubilee Sports Centre in Nottingham, with five rounds of fixtures across the two days in all six divisions, resulting in a total of 540 matches.

Elsewhere in the Premier Division, last year’s runners-up Fusion start against Burton Uxbridge and YHL face Halton. Thorntons, relegated from the Premier Division, begin their bid to bounce back against Draycott II.

The second weekend of the WBL takes place at the University of Huddersfield on February 4 and 5, 2017.