Fusion and Ormesby go into bat for England in the first stage of the Europe Trophy this weekend, with places in the Grand Final at stake.

Both clubs are hosting round-robin ties in the first phase of the third level of European club competition, which was first played last year.

Ormesby TTC in Middlesbrough is the venue for women’s matches involving the host club, English rivals Fusion, B-72 from Norway and TTC Hercogs from Latvia.

Former England senior international Karina Le Fevre (pictured above, photo by Chris Rayner) leads the Ormesby team which also includes youngsters Ella Pashley and Rebecca Savage.

In the Fusion squad are the likes of Elena Todirca, Tiana Dennison and Danielle Kelly, who all featured in the competition last year, when Fusion reached the Grand Final stage.

Selected matches from the Ormesby-hosted event will be streamed live on TTE.TV.

Fusion’s male colleagues will compete in matches at the club’s south London base, where the hosts will take on Logis Auderghem TT of Belgium, TTV Red Stars Venray of Netherlands and DT Hueschtert-Folscht from Luxembourg.

Father and son Lorestas and Larry Trumpauskas, alongside Josh Bruce, are among those registered to compete for Fusion.

WInning teams go through to the Grand Final, which is due to be held from March 17-19. The overall Trophy winners book a place in next season’s Europe Cup, the second level of European competition after the Champions League.

Last season, Fusion and Draycott & Long Eaton reached the Grand Final in the women’s competition, with Grantham Academy and Draycott getting to the same stage in the men’s competition. Fusion and Grantham finished seventh in the respective competitions, with Draycott eighth in both.