ENGLAND head coach Anna Mayes has vowed not to take Wales lightly when the teams go head to head in the Commonwealth Games today.

Swindon coach Mayes' squad get their Pool B campaign under way against their home-nation rivals on Friday before a mouth-watering clash with world champions Australia on Saturday, and boss Mayes is pleased with how the build-up has gone for her players.

“We're feeling very confident about our preparation, both from a physical as well as an analysis point of view,” she said. “We are very fortunate to have played against a lot of the Welsh athletes within our domestic competition, the Superleague. We don't underestimate them at all.

“The competition between the home nations is always hotly contested and there will be a lot of passion and fire in our bellies. So I'm really looking forward to it.

“It's a really good game for us going into the Australia game because the Welsh won't just let us win. They'll give us a real fight and that's important for us ahead of that big game against Australia.”

Mayes singled out South Africa and Malawi as teams to keep an eye out for.

The Proteas have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years under the guidance of coach Elize Kotze and with the assistance of world-renowned sports psychologist Dr Sherylle Calder, and showed they are a match for anyone on their day with victory over England late last year.

Malawi, meanwhile, are led by highly experienced former international Mary Waya and have the likes of Mwai Kumwenda - named the ANZ Championship's best new talent for 2014 - in their ranks.