Star-studded Magpies must gel: Ellis

Former Australian great Liz Ellis says the strength of Super Netball favourites Collingwood could also be their weakness when the inaugural competition gets underway on Saturday.

The Magpies, backed by the AFL heavyweights of the same name, boast five current Australian squad members in their line-up in skipper Madi Robinson, Sharni Layton, Kim Ravailion, , Caitlin Thwaites and April Brandley, which is the most of any side.

Ellis said while those players have history and combinations together at Test level, it could be a different story when they are playing together long term.

Players from each of the eight teams in the new Super Netball compeition. (AAP)

"It's one thing to be good through an international season but to be good week in week out is another thing," said Ellis, who is also a commentator with the new competition.

"On paper you'd have to say that Collingwood are the favourites but paper doesn't seem to win grand finals.

"To actually win any competition at any level you've got to be a really good team and you can have all the great players in the world in your team but if you don't gel than you're going to struggle."

The champion goal-keeper said Collingwood would also carry the most pressure after signing so many stars.

Ellis said she was interested to see the performance of the multi-cultural Sunshine Coast Lightning, who have an English captain in Geva Mentor but have lured players from New Zealand, including star midcourter Laura Langman, and also Australian Test shooter Caitlin Bassett.

English defender Geva Mentor will captain the Sunshine Coast Lightning. (AAP)

The Lightning, backed by NRL club Melbourne, have a Kiwi coach in Noeline Taurua.

Ellis said the different playing styles could be an issue.

"That's something that they're going to have to work through in the early stages of the season although I guess they've got that stability in the front end with Caitlin Bassett and Steph Wood who have played together in the the Diamonds.

"Sunshine Coast have the potential to be a good team but a lot depends on how well they bring together those different styles of play."

Ellis said she also found it hard to go the Queensland Firebirds, who won the last two trans-Tasman championships, despite losing key defenders Laura Geitz (pregnancy) and Claire McMeniman.

"Any premiership team that retains its attacking end is going to be pretty hard to beat," Ellis said.