Manchester Thunder head coach Karen Greig is thrilled Cumbrian Helen Housby will be playing for the club again this weekend.

Shooter Housby, from Drumleaning, near Wigton, and former Thunder captain Sara Bayman will represent the Manchester club at the British Fast5 All-Stars Championship that takes place today at the O2.

Greig says the pair were always at the top of her list when seeking the “star players” for the Manchester squad.

The tournament draw took place on Tuesday, with Manchester Thunder set to play Loughborough Lightning in round one of the one-day competition.

And Greig is pleased the two England internationals will be representing Thunder once more.

“As soon as the tournament said ‘star players’, we had a list of who we wanted and said ‘let’s get them back’,” Greig said.

“They are Thunder girls, north-west girls and Manchester girls. So the fact they are back in the black in yellow – they are super excited and the squad is pleased to have them around.”

“It’s so exciting to have them back. Sara will be solid in the middle for us and, as a passionate player who can attack and defend, she will be important," Greig added on Sky Sports .

“Our centre court players will have a big ask on them without the support of the wings, so I have gone for players who I know are super fit."

The pair were recently involved for England in their Quad Series matches against New Zealand Silver Ferns, the Australian Diamonds and South Africa SPAR Proteas.

Former Nelson Thomlinson school student Housby’s career has gone from strength-to-strength having played for New South Wales Swifts in the Suncorp Super Netball competition in Australia earlier this year.

“We have all seen Helen put up shots from all over the circle, so we are hoping she has been practising the big five-pointers,” Greig added.