A thrilling series is expected between the two great rivals and African giants, with the Proteas ranked fifth in the world, and the Queens ranked sixth.

For South Africa, it will be their first series under the guidance of Jenny van Dyk as the new head coach, while the Free State’s Khanyisa Chawane is the new captain.

Chawane said representing South Africa on the court is way bigger than the team. “I definitely see it as a new era with the new management that has been appointed, but as the team as well, they are familiar faces, but it’s a new, or it’s a different dynamic,” said Chawane.

“I’m really excited to work with the coaches that we have, they’re visionaries, they are passionate people, and they always give us clarity of where they want us to go. Any coach that gives you clarity is a coach that you want to buy in and you really want to work hard and achieve everything that they basically give to you.

“As a team, as a captain, it’s more leading the team to do things that have never been done before. I think it’s more of a mystery if I can put it like that because there are so many competitions to come.

‘You put yourself in a position where you just always want to win’

“As the coach has also mentioned, you put yourself in a position where you just always want to win. I’m looking forward to really leading the team in achieving things that no one ever thinks we’ll be able to achieve.”

Thursday’s 1st Test between South Africa and Malawi at the Ellis Park Arena gets underway at 18:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg /mvh