Sunshine Girls goal shooter Romelda Aiken gets in some practice at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre netball facility on Tuesday. Ricardo Makyn

GLASGOW, Scotland:

Ace Sunshine Girls shooter Romelda Aiken reports that her teammates can hardly wait to get their Commonwealth Games campaign under way today, as they look to signal their intentions and send a message against minnows St Lucia.

The 20th installment of the multidiscipline event tips off with Aiken and the rest of the number four ranked Sunshine Girls commanding the spotlight, as they get their quest for a second podium finish at the Commonwealth Games on course, at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) at 7 p.m. (1 p.m. Jamaica time).

Swimming star and a medal favourite Alia Atkinson along with several other Jamaican swimmers will get in on the early games action as well, with Jamaica also being represented in badminton, cycling, triathlon and table tennis competitions.

Aiken, who stars for ANZ heavyweights the Queensland Firebirds, said that the team is eager to get started and believes that they are primed to make a statement at these championships.

"I think we are ready to go," Aiken said.

"We had a few practice games and a camp and now we are just looking forward to it. The girls are looking good and we are excited that we are up to start our first game, we can't wait to get on court!"

dismiss complacency

Aiken, who noted her role as a leader on the squad, dismissed any thought of complacency and underlined that both young and experienced players will have a strong say in the outcome of the campaign.

"We are very focused, our head space is in the right place and we just want to make sure that when we step out there on the court we do so as a team."

Jamaica is pooled along with defending champions New Zealand, Malawi, Scotland, Northern Ireland and St Lucia.

A lot of attention will also be focused on Atkinson today, but UK-born Zara Bailey will be the first swimmer in the Tollcross International Swimming Centre water for Jamaica, with her 400m individual medley heat set for a 10:40 a.m. (4:40 a.m.) start. Bailey returns a few hours later for the 100m butterfly heats with Trudiann Patrick lined up in the same heat at 12:07 a.m. (6:07 p.m.).