Anna Mayes eyes "crucial" Australia clash at Commonwealth Games

England netball coach Anna Mayes believes that the Commonwealth Games clash with Australia will act as a barometer for how far her side can go in Glasgow this summer.

Team England lost to Australia - currently ranked number two in the world, one place ahead of Mayes's side - in Delhi four years ago to deny them a chance to compete for the gold medal against New Zealand.

However, although she admits that the game is "crucial" to gauge how strong her side are, Mayes says that her team's passage to the final will not hinge on beating the Aussies.

"That game against Australia is critical for us in terms of performance - it will give us a clear marker of where we're at," she told reporters.

"While a win is very important and that's what we would like in terms of topping the pool, there's many ways of making the final."

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of the Games' opening ceremony tonight.