Netball: Australian Dehn to captain Steel

Former Australian international Megan Dehn will lead the Southern Steel in this year's trans-Tasman netball league.

Despite a lengthy stint in netball's elite ranks, Dehn said the leadership appointment took her by surprise.

"It was a bit of a shock ... there're so many experienced girls in our team," she said.

Heralded for her attacking prowess on court and training tenacity off it, Dehn said she would lead by example.

"I've been thinking back to all the captains I've had and there's been some good ones -- Adine (Wilson) last year and Liz Ellis with the Swifts and Australia ... I've been thinking 'oh my God, how am I going to live up to them?'," she said.

"I think I'm probably a mixture of a lot of people. I'm not the kind of person who talks loudly or enforces myself that way but I like to lead on court and at training and set a good example for the younger players."

Dehn said the team was progressing well and the players were eagerly anticipating their first pre-season hit-out against the Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch this weekend.

"Everyone is training really well and improving every session. It's great to see everyone pushing really hard," she said.

"It will be nice to get on court and try out some combinations and remember why you're doing all this hard work."

The Steel will host a pre-season tournament in Queenstown from February 19-21 featuring five other ANZ Championship teams -- the Queensland Firebirds, Northern Mystics, Central Pulse and Canterbury Tactix -- as well as a line-up from the Australian Institute of Sport.