The netball matches for the Commonwealth Games have been announced, with the Diamonds setting their sights on gold.

The Australian Diamonds won’t meet arch-rivals New Zealand or England in the preliminary pool matches in Birmingham following the release of the netball schedule for the Games.

But the Diamonds may need to beat both teams in the semi-final and final to be back on the top step of the podium as the team searches for its fourth netball gold.

The Diamonds will begin their Birmingham campaign the day after the opening ceremony, with a Friday 29 July encounter with a yet to be named qualifier.

Australia will be joined in Group A by Jamaica, South Africa and three qualifiers, who will earn their spot in the Games in 2022.

Group B consists of the Diamonds’ old foe New Zealand, new foe and defending champions England, Malawi and three further qualifiers.

Each pool plays preliminary matches against the other teams in their pool, with the top two teams in each pool proceeding to the cross over and sudden death semi-finals.

Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, South Africa, and Malawi were the first six nations official invited to take part in the 12-team tournament at the Games.

The other half of the teams will be comprised of those ranked 7-12 according to the world netball rankings on 31 January 2022, and they will be officially invited to the Games in February 2022 which will reveal the Diamonds first two opponents.

All games will be played at the NEC Arena.

The Diamonds first four group games will be played during the day in England and night in Australia, while the final group clash against Jamaica session will commence in Australian primetime in good news for sports fans and Australia’s Birmingham 2022 Games broadcaster Channel 7.

Gold Coast 2018 silver medallist and newly minted Diamonds captain Liz Watson believes the side is ready for the challenge the Birmingham Games will present.

“The Commonwealth Games is the biggest stage for our sport, and we are excited to represent Australia in Birmingham,” Watson said.

“We have waited four years for the opportunity to win back Commonwealth Games gold and we are incredibly determined to bring it home in 2022.”

Australian Diamonds Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich is preparing her side for the months ahead leading into the Commonwealth Games.

“Our preparation is already underway, and we will continue to build our on and off the court connection over the next nine months as we firmly set our sights on the 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

“We are currently working through upcoming opportunities for international matches, which will be crucial in the lead up to Birmingham.”

A twelve-member netball team will be announced in 2022 and Commonwealth Games Australia is planning to send its largest team to compete in an away campaign with an expected team size of 425 athletes across 21 sports.

To be in the stands in Birmingham supporting the Diamonds and the rest of the Australian team, for the first time Australian families and fans will be able to access group tickets for all events at the Commonwealth Games.

The Family & Fans Tour ensures Australian families and fans can sit and cheer together, stay together and play together at the Birmingham Games.

Tour packages are available for all sports; however, numbers are limited.

Bookings are now open, learn more about the Family & Fans Tour below.

The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will take place from 28 July to 8 August.

To follow the journey of our athletes, subscribe to Commonwealth Games Australia’s ‘Greater Together’ e-newsletter to stay up to date with Australia’s preparations for the Games.