Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Sharelle McMahon, captain of Australia's netball team, said she relishes the challenge of competing against Jamaica's Sunshine Girls and is looking forward to today's start of their National Commercial Bank (NCB) Sunshine Series.

"I enjoy playing against the Jamaicans because they are extremely athletic, they are very skilled and they play with a lot of flair," said the 32-year-old McMahon, who alternates between the goal attack and goal shooter positions.

McMahon, who first started playing for Australia at age 20, made her international debut against the Sunshine Girls in Jamaica in 1997. She is known for her remarkable speed, dodging, passing, fast reflexes and elevation. In addition to these qualities, she is known as an excellent finisher, sinking shots with relatively high accuracy and maintaining her composure in tough situations.

McMahon was the youngest member of the Australian team which won the inaugural netball gold medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.

She was also a member of the team which defeated the Sunshine Girls 2-0 in their last Test series in 2005.

"It is going to very tough for us playing in front of the Jamaica crowd because the atmosphere that they create is always fantastic for the Sunshine Girls," said McMahon of this series.

She added: "It is also going to be a very exciting game to watch because the Jamaicans are playing some great netball at the moment."

Different team

McMahon also stated that they will be using the series to showcase some of their younger players to the world.

"We have a very different team from the one that came over here in 2005, because this a young squad. But they have fit into the team fantastically and they are not easily intimidated," she said.