The Thunderbirds have struggled in recent years, only managing four victories in three years, but have embraced Queensland hub life to have already chalked up three wins to sit fourth on the ladder after five rounds.

Melbourne Vixens, NSW Swifts and the Lightning fill the top three places after only dropping one match each.

Adelaide had a convincing win over Collingwood Magpies last round and take on the Lightning in the second Sunday match at USC Stadium on the Sunshine Coast.

The champion Swifts and Magpies open the round on Saturday at Brisbane's Nissan Arena, followed by West Coast Fever's meeting with Queensland Firebirds.

The early Sunday game at USC Stadium is the Vixens against the Giants.

Thunderbirds co-captain Chelsea Pitman said her team was growing in confidence.

"For us to now have two wins in a row, and three for the season, is a great start for us," Pitman told AAP on Friday.

"The hard part now is building that consistency and making sure that we keep improving and keep getting those wins."

The wing attack said a settled "spine", as well as adjusting to the game plan of coach Tania Obst who took over for the 2019 season, had helped.

"It's all the little things that were brewing from last year, and being able to implement it with the right people to top it off for this year's season."

Pitman felt the competition was particularly even, including the winless Firebirds, who have a draw and some tight losses, in the mix.

With teams playing every few days in the condensed draw she said that the team that managed hub life best would succeed.

"Whoever keeps their athletes happiest away from the court and really has a team-first mentality is going to be successful and that's something that we're really working on ourselves," she said.

Pitman played for Australia before switching her allegiance to England and helping them claim the 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal.

She said tournament play and the hectic Super season schedule couldn't really be compared.

"If you look at those tournaments you usually have a few games where you can rotate people... but this is different because every single game is at that elite level," he said.

Australian Associated Press