YORKSHIRE Diamonds are hoping Devine intervention in the form of New Zealand all-rounder Sophie can help them win this summer’s Kia Super League.

Devine, 27, debuts in today’s televised opener against Lancashire Thunder at Headingley (2.30pm).

The dual Kiwi cricket and hockey international joins White Rose ranks having played for semi-finalists Loughborough Lightning in the first year of the competition.

One of the bigger hitters in the women’s game, Devine joins a side who only won one of five matches last year and finished second bottom above Lancashire.

But she sees no reason why the Diamonds can’t go all the way to Finals Day at Hove on September 1, the day of her 28th birthday.

“I know the girls were disappointed with how they went last year,” said Devine, who narrowly missed out on selection for NZ Hockey’s London 2012 Olympic squad.

“But there are new players, new coaches, and there’s no reason why we can’t bring home the trophy.

“I said if they needed players to move around, I’d put my hand up - and they did, so here we are.

“I really enjoyed my time at Loughborough, but it’s a new and exciting challenge. Being based here at Headingley is fantastic.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Roses rivalry. It’s fantastic that it’s a double header with the men.

“You talk about rivalries around the world, Australia and England, New Zealand and Australia, there’s plenty there. The two Roses sounds like it’s right up there. We’ll be right on it.”

Devine has played 146 times for New Zealand in T20 and one-day cricket, including at the recent World Cup.

She will come up against fellow Kiwis Amy Satterthwaite and Lea Tahuhu as well as Australian Jess Jonassen.

Fast bowler Tahuhu and spinning all-rounder Jonassen are new Thunder recruits, while all-rounder Satterthwaite captained last year but has handed the reins over to England’s Danielle Hazell.

That Hazell was a Diamond last year and still plays her county cricket for Yorkshire is just another thing to throw into the melting pot.

“It’s almost as though the internationals cancel each other out,” added Devine.

“The one thing that really impressed me last year was the quality of the county players.

“At Loughborough, our county players stepped up. I don’t see why that won’t be the case with Yorkshire.”

Yorkshire Diamonds from: Lauren Winfield (C), Hollie Armitage, Chamari Atapattu, Katherine Brunt, Steph Butler, Laura Crofts, Alice Davidson-Richards, Sophie Devine, Teresa Graves, Jenny Gunn, Katie Levick, Sune Luus, Anna Nicholls w, Katie Thompson, Maddie Walsh.