IMAGINE warming up for a national netball grand final in front of 9500 rowdy fans who've filled every seat in the stadium.
Compare that to standing on a swimming block in front a stand with only a few people scattered here and there.
Most people would rate the full house as the most daunting but, surprisingly, the swimming scenario scares Sarah Wall more.
Speaking at the Opening of the South West Games at Cobden yesterday, the Queensland Firebirds netballer said her first dose of competitive nerves came at the games as a child at Camperdown.
Wall said she competed in swimming and athletics at the games when she was younger.
"I've always loved sport. I remember I always got so nervous in an individual event,'' she said.
"It's funny to compare to how I feel when I get out on the court now. I'm not as nervous."
Along with games patron Shirley Fahey, Wall officially opened the 2009 South West Games last night at the Cobden Miniature Railway park amid a karate demonstration, train rides and a parade of Cobden Primary School pupils. She was also present to see Warrnambool Mayor Michael Neoh pass on the goodwill message to 2009 host, Corangamite Shire.
This year's games have 62 events and are expected to include 6000 participants.
They hold a special place in Wall's heart, having helped kick-start her netball career.
She won numerous titles with a St Patrick's netball side when she was younger at the Glenelg Games ? the former name of the event.
Wall, who still has her netball medals from the games, jumped at the chance to be the competition's special guest this year.
She was approached by games co-ordinator Val Bertrand shortly after her previous side, Melbourne Vixens, beat the Adelaide Thunderbirds to win the trans-Tasman Championship in July.
"I was very honoured to be asked, especially with all the great athletes we have in the area," Wall said.
"I love coming home as much as I can and I'm still quite a big part of sport in the area because of my sisters."
The mid-courter - who has been a state representative at under 21, under 19 and under 17 level - was looking forward to visiting different sports today and tomorrow and next weekend.
The 25-year-old is still based in Melbourne and plans to move to Queensland to start training with her new side in early January.
South West Sports Assembly project officer Damian Clark said last night's opening ceremony was the start of an action-packed fortnight.
"The majority of the events will be held over the next couple of weeks," he said.
"The first weekend is pretty quiet and the second weekend is bigger. There's going to be something like 25 or 26 events hosted within Corangamite and there's one or two which have already run successfully. "
Sports to be contested range from rowing to gymnastics and surfing.
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