ENGLISH-BORN netball player Brie Grierson has admitted that she feels both nervous and excited about representing the Sunshine Girls in their three-match series against South Africa on home soil, starting this week.

The games, scheduled for January 18, 22, and 25 at National Indoor Sports Centre, will see the teams competing for the Margaret Beckford Trophy.

Grierson, 27, plays goal attack or wing attack, with the latter being her preferred position. She had a training stint with the Sunshine Girls during the England leg of the Horizon four-Test series in November last year. The Jamaicans won the series 2-1, with the other game ending 49-49.

Grierson expressed her eagerness to make her debut for the national side against South Africa.

“I am super excited and happy. I am proud that I am going to be representing the Jamaican flag,” said Grierson. “This definitely is a dream come true for me. I am looking forward to the series, and we definitely want to win, and so I am just excited to get going.”

Grierson, who plays for Nottingham Forest in the Vitality Netball Superleague, arrived on the island last Friday along with fellow English-born player Rhea Dixon.

Both had their first gym session with the Sunshine Girls on Monday morning.

“It feels really good to be here,” she said. “Today was my first session and it feels great. I had weights this morning, and this evening [Monday] will be our first training session so I am just excited.”

Grierson noted that she is a skilled player and feels confident about making a positive impact in the series for the Sunshine Girls, if given the opportunity.

“I play wing attack and goal attack, but wing attack is my first and favourite position. I think I am quite fast; I like to feed the shooters, and with the tall shooters like the Jamaicans, I think my style will complement that,” Grierson explained.

“I haven’t even thought about starting in the team yet because I am just looking to make my debut and take it from there.”

The Sunshine Girls, currently ranked third in the world, hold a two-place advantage over the South Africans. However, Grierson is expecting a tough challenge from their opponents.

“I am a bit nervous, but I am extremely proud. It will mean so much because my parents will be in the crowd. It is going to be a tough series — South Africa is a top squad and so are we, so I think it will be very competitive,” she stated.