The pair are more used to playing together than they are against each other. They had four seasons together at the Steel and a season together with the Sting.
But they are likely to find themselves marking each other when the Pulse hosts the Steel in Palmerston North.
''It will be weird playing against the likes of Wendy Frew. I've been in her team for years and playing against her will be quite different. It feels really funny.''
Frew last week replaced Leota as the Steel's most-capped player, so Leota joked about suspending their friendship while they tussle on court.
''We won't be friends for an hour.''
Last year, the friends had time away from the game to have babies. Leota moved to England with her husband, former Highlanders midfield back Johnny Leota. The couple have two children - Brooklyn (10) and Torres (9 months). And yes, Torres is named after Spanish and Chelsea striker Fernando Torres. They liked the name.
''We are slowly converting to football but we still love the oval ball,'' she joked.
Leota linked up with the Manchester Thunder after the birth of her son. She did some coaching and training which helped get her back up to speed for the ANZ Championship.
She has returned to New Zealand with Torres in tow to take up her playing contract with the Pulse. Johnny and Brooklyn are still in Manchester, where Johnny is playing rugby for the Sale Sharks. They will join Liana and Torres in Wellington next month.
''It is not too long to wait now.''
The Pulse, of course, is the new Steel. Five players in its squad have played for the Steel and another two have played netball for Otago teams.
Pulse coach Robyn Broughton coached the Sting for 10 years and the Steel for four years before she left in controversial circumstances when the franchise decided to advertise for a head coach.
''I would still be playing for the Steel if Robyn was still the coach. She has done amazing stuff for me when I was young by bringing me up through the ranks.''
