The Steel wrapped up the pre season with a 71-52 loss to the Central Pulse on Saturday, and a 64-62 loss to the Mainland Tactix yesterday, in Otaki.
Injuries did not help the Steel, which was missing shooters Sophia Fenwick and Brooke Leaver, and defender Phoenix Karaka.
To fill the void, Jamie Hume, of Alexandra, and South Otago High School twins Abby and Sophie Erwood travelled with the team and had a taste of ANZ Championship netball.
Coach Janine Southby mixed and matched her team throughout the two matches, taking the opportunity to test out combinations and give everyone a run.
The Steel jumped out to an early 20-12 lead against the Pulse, before being overpowered down the stretch. The southern side nearly turned around a 51-43 deficit in the final quarter against the Tactix.
Frew was ''disappointed'' to lose both matches, but said the team did ''some good things'' before its regular season opener against the New South Wales Swifts in Invercargill.
''Everyone got some generous court time, so that's one real positive aspect,'' she said.
Almost three months after the squad came together for the pre season, Frew said the team had ''certainly stepped up'' since December.
''Overall, I think we have gained some good things from where we were in December. But we would still like to be winning tight games, and that's probably something we have let ourselves down with a wee bit in Sydney and now here,'' she said.
''But we are learning lots from it. It's good to experience it now so we don't have those feelings come again come the season.
''We know we can do a lot better.''
Asked if there was a specific area the team needed to work for Sunday night's game, Frew said ''individual execution of passes and moves''.
''At times we are not putting the ball into the right space and then putting pressure on each other,'' she said.
''If we can improve on that slightly, I think we will be in good stead.''
The Steel did not pick up any new injuries at the weekend, and Frew was confident Karaka, Leaver and Fenwick would be available this weekend.
''This is where the fun begins. We have been slogging it out for three months and everyone has been so enthusiastic and worked really hard. It's exciting to know it's game time come this weekend.''
The team arrived home from Otaki last night and will train in Invercargill tomorrow and Dunedin on Thursday.
