AS they prepare to take part in their first Commonwealth Games, the Scottish Thistles could not have asked for a better role model to lend some last-minute advice.

Patron of Netball Scotland is one Katherine Grainger, the Scottish rower whose experiences in winning medals at the last four Olympic Games - including gold at London 2012 - make her the most valuable of sounding boards for a young but eager group gradually inching their way up the world rankings.

Grainger, who will be working at the Games as a BBC pundit, has taken a keen interest in the team's preparation, and her input has been much appreciated in return. There is a determination among the group to enjoy everything that surrounds participation in a major sporting event such as this - a first walk around the Athletes Village sparked excited yelps about the salon and smoothie bars on site - but Grainger has tried to temper that enthusiasm with a warning not to forget just why they are there in the first place.

"She's been fantastic," said Gemma Sole, the team's versatile goalshooter/keeper, of Grainger. "Obviously she's a very experienced athlete and has been at the top of her game for a long time now. The sort of insight she's been able to share with us is something you can't really get from anyone else.

"We had a send-off with our family and friends not so long ago and she sent a personalised message which was lovely. She's also given us an idea of what the atmosphere will be like, what we need to use as anchors to focus on our netball and our performance. She's been fantastic and it's great to have her involved.

"On Sunday we had our first visit to the Village and the excitement was electric from us just walking around: we found a salon, barbecues, smoothie bars, ice baths; the facilities are second to none. We've never experienced anything like that, and that was with it virtually empty. So it's good to have someone like Katherine to remind us that, for all we have to try to enjoy these things, we are going there to do a job."

As Grainger remains coy on the prospect of going for a fifth successive Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Sole suggested the team's mentor could yet follow a different path. "She's been along to a couple of events. She didn't bring the best shoes, to be honest, so the next time we'll have to get her some good netball trainers before she makes an impact on court! But she has the height so she has a chance; we could make a netballer of her yet."

Even with her pedigree, Grainger, though, might struggle to get in the team given the upturn in fortunes being experienced by the Thistles under their new coach Gail Parata. Scotland are up to 11th in the world rankings and have set a target of a top-eight finish at the Games.

"I've been involved with the squad for four years, since just before the Commonwealth Games in Delhi," said centre Sam Murphy. "We didn't qualify for those games and the main change in the squad since 2010 has been our belief. Before we would say we were aiming for the top eight in the world and it actually scared us. Now it's a totally realistic goal. The results recently have been fantastic.

"Our new coach has made a few changes since she took over. There's a greater intensity to training and fresh tactics; it's really helpful. We're playing our games at the SECC and we can really use the support of the crowd to our advantage."

There is a genuine camaraderie among the group, too, which has helped foster team spirit. "We're all going to book ourselves in and get our nails done [in the Village]," added Murphy. "The full team have agreed we're getting them done, all the same, but we don't know what colour yet...

"We're so close as a squad. We train five and six times a week together and we're lucky we're all pretty much based in and around Glasgow so we're around each other constantly."

There will be plenty of backing in the SECC stands. "The netball crowds are absolutely fantastic and at the World Cup qualifiers in Cardiff there was a coachload that came down," added Sole, daughter of David, Scotland's 1990 Grand Slam-winning rugby captain.

"They were only about a quarter of the crowd but they made so much more noise. That was phenomenal. I can't even imagine what it will be like with 3000 of them - we won't even be able to hear each other. It will be great.

"My family have gone and ordered custom-made Saltire blazers that they're all going to be sporting. This was my mum's idea as she's very into her kit. So my three brothers and my mum and dad will all be in them. They'll certainly stand out."