Surrey Storm will begin the defence of their Vitality Superleague title against Severn Stars, one of three new franchises for the 2017 season. A new 10-team Superleague will encompass 18 rounds of fixtures, with each team playing each other on a home and away basis and, as winners of the last two Grand Finals, Surrey will have their sights set on a third successive crown. Superleague Fixtures - Round One Hertfordshire Mavericks v Team Northumbria February 17 Celtic Dragons v Team Bath February 18 Loughborough Lightning v Manchester Thunder February 18 Surrey Storm v Severn Stars February 18 Sirens v Wasps February 21 They will begin on February 18 at Surrey Sports Park against new franchise the Stars, a joint venture between the universities of Gloucestershire and Worcester who have brought in former Surrey goal attack/shooter Pamela Cookey as director of netball after her retirement. Storm claim third straight crown Surrey beat Manchester Thunder to claim Superleague honours The two other new franchises will meet on the opening weekend of fixtures, with Scottish Sirens hosting Wasps at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow in the final match of the weekend (February 21), while the first fixture of the opening round will see last years beaten semi-finalists Hertfordshire Mavericks host Team Northumbria on February 17.Completing the opening round will be Celtic Dragons against Team Bath and Loughborough Lightning against last years beaten finalists Manchester Thunder. Highlights from the 2016 Vitality Netball Superleague Grand Final as Surrey Storm beat Manchester Thunder Round Two will encompass all 10 teams playing on the same day at Birminghams Genting Arena - last years Super Saturday becoming the Super Ten on Saturday February 25 with a repeat of last years final between Thunder and Storm the highlight. Superleague Fixtures - Round Two (Super Ten) Loughborough Lightning v Severn Stars 12pm