The brilliance of Georgie Horjus has steered the Adelaide Thunderbirds to a 54-50 win over Collingwood in their Super Netball season opener.

Horjus set Netball SA Stadium alight in the first half with her exciting play-making from wing attack, racking up 21 feeds and 11 assists, before putting the Magpies to the sword in the shooting circle after the break.

Collingwood endured an interrupted build-up to the match with coach Nicole Richardson forced to isolate in Melbourne after being a close COVID-19 contact.

Richardson was afforded special dispensation to coach remotely and relay messages via mobile phone to stand-in coach Kate Upton.

The Magpies were also without co-captain Ash Brazil, who was a late scratching after suffering concussion at training, but welcomed veteran England defender Geva Mentor, who was cleared after suffering a rolled ankle.

Thunderbirds spearhead Lenize Potgeiter notched her 1,000th career goal and off-season recruit Tippah Dwan made an early impression with a pair of super shots to help turn an early 9-12 Adelaide deficit into a 16-13 quarter-time lead.

Collingwood, piloted by outstanding shooter Shimona Nelson (38 goals), marginally had the better of the middle two terms to limit the Thunderbirds' advantage to 41-38 at three-quarter time.

That was despite the brilliance of Horjus, whose two late super-shots gave Adelaide the momentum at the last change.

The home side responded to a late Collingwood rally with a 5-0, four-minute run to put the visitors away for good.

Potgeiter and Mentor waged a tight battle all afternoon, while Thunderbirds skipper Hannah Petty led from the front with a big second half.

Molly Jovic was brilliant for the Magpies, both in the middle and defence, but Collingwood ultimately had no answers for the versatile Horjus.

A potentially serious injury to star shooter Sam Wallace was the final blow for the NSW Swifts as they started their Super Netball title defence with a 57-55 loss to local rivals the Giants.

With just over 12 minutes to go at Ken Rosewall Arena in the rematch of the 2021 grand final, the Trinidadian sharpshooter slipped and collapsed to the court clutching her right knee and screaming in pain.

Medical staff from both teams tended to her for several minutes before she was helped off the court.

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Trailing by three at the time, the understandably distracted Swifts conceded the next five goals but bravely rallied and cut the gap to just two inside the last two minutes.

The Giants expertly retained possession for the remainder of the game, not allowing the Swifts another shot.

It was just the second out of the past seven NSW derbies played in Sydney and a crowd of 7261 produced a cracking atmosphere.

Before Wallace's injury, no more than five goals separated the two fierce rivals in a hard-fought derby.

The away team Giants scored the first four goals but the Swifts hit back to lead 14-12 at the first break.

However, the Giants held the lead for much of the game with mid-courters Jamie-Lee Price and Maddie Hay excelling and the uncharacteristically sloppy Swifts making 22 turnovers.

Wallace's direct opponent Matilda McDonell also shone, taking on even more responsibility with Diamonds defender April Brandley playing just the first half as she was on managed minutes.

Wallace headed all scorers with 33 from 37 attempts.

Sophie Dwyer made 28 off 33 for the Giants and Jo Harten 25 of 34.

AAP