The Sparks open their summer with a twenty/20 match against Central Districts in Invercargill tomorrow.
The following day the same sides will play a one-day match, and on Sunday the teams will play a second twenty/20 fixture.
It is a tough assignment.
Central Districts won both the one-day and twenty/20 tournaments last summer and look strong again.
By contrast, the Sparks were off the pace last season, finishing in last place in the one-day competition with three wins and six losses, and in fourth place in the twenty/20 tournament with one win from five matches.
Both competitions were tight and an extra win or two would have made a big difference to the season.
But the Sparks relied on too few players and, when the leading performers missed out, the side struggled to compete.
The usual suspects dominated proceedings.
All-rounder Sarah Tsukigawa had a good one-day season with the bat, scoring 404 runs at an average of 50.50, and Katey Martin was consistent at the top of the order.
She scored four 50s and amassed just under 400 runs as well.
Leg-spinner Emma Campbell was the team's leading wicket-taker with 15 wickets at 17.93, and veteran seamer Clare Taylor took 12 wickets at 19.41.
Classy all-rounder Suzie Bates played just four one-day games and never really hit her straps, and aside from the odd cameo, there was very little else to write home about.
This summer, King is hopeful one or two other players will find their feet and start delivering more consistent performances.
Hong Kong all-rounder Natasha Miles and former Northern Districts bowler Jenny Jackson strengthen the squad and, with the return of experienced spinner Tanya Morrison, the Sparks appear to have more depth than in some previous seasons.
The side is also fitter.
Fitness has been an issue in the past, but the Sparks have called in a trainer to help get the squad up to speed and King has been pleased with the side's progress.
"We'll certainly be looking to crack one of those finals, whatever form it is," King responded when asked about his side's prospects.
"We were a little bit more consistent at twenty/20 cricket last year.
But in saying that we only won one match, although we did have a lot of close losses.
In one day cricket we lost more games than we won as well."
"So I don't think we are better at one format over the other.
But I do think the skills in the team will allow us to compete really well in both forms of the game."
Otago will be without the services of Campbell for at least the first two weeks.
She has a hand injury and is unlikely to resume training until after Christmas.
Central's attack has been weakened by having two former White Fern bowlers out.
Abby Burrows has succumbed to injury and Rachel Candy will play for the Canterbury Magicians this year.
Those losses have been partly offset by the arrival of experienced Irish international Eimear Richardson.
Central also boasts a talented core in White Ferns Aimee Watkins, Sara McGlashan, Rachel Priest and Kate Broadmore.
The twenty/20 tournament has expanded at the expense of the one-day competition, which has shrunk from 10 to five round-robin matches to allow for a double round of twenty/20 games this season.
The top two teams after round-robin matches will contest the finals of both tournaments.
