Helen Housby is open to an extended stay in Australia as the Cumbrian netball star prepares for a huge summer.

Tonight, Housby will help England get their Netball Quad Series campaign under way against New Zealand in London (BBC Red Button, 6pm start).

After that, Housby will be hoping to be involved when England compete at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April, before the 2018 Suncorp Super Netball campaign starts soon after.

Housby from Drumleaning, near Wigton, will again be playing for New South Wales Swifts in the Australian league after signing a two-year contract ahead of the start of last season.

The Carlisle-born former Manchester Thunder player, 23 yesterday, admits she enjoyed playing Down Under last year and was happy to potentially play there longer term.

“It’s completely different,” Housby, who plays goal shooter or goal attack, said.

“It’s a step up in intensity, it almost feels like an international every week.

“You are playing against Australians, but also Kiwis and South Africans, because everybody wants to play in that league.”

“I’ve definitely noticed a difference in my game and my mentality, even just after playing out there for one season," she added to The Times .

“I could see myself staying out there for quite a while.

“The lifestyle suits me, [with] going to the beaches. I love my music and, since I’ve been out there, I’ve seen Drake, Adele, Coldplay.

“I’ve just been having a great time. The netball is so good and the competition is amazing.”

In the meantime, Housby and the Roses will be focusing on the Quad Series which will see them play Australia on Monday and South Africa in Johannesburg next Sunday after this weekend’s opener against the Kiwis.

Having finished third every time since the inaugural series in 2016, including in both series’ last year, Housby is hoping for a better England display this time.