Knight and England desperate to fire early in Paarl
England lost their 2020 T20 World Cup opener to South Africa at the WACA, and the early-tournament malaise crept into the 2022 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, where they lost their first three matches, including one against their upcoming opponents in Paarl.
The less forgiving T20 World Cup format means England don't have the fall-back should they lose twice or three times up front.
"A slow start would probably be a nice way to put that in that (Cricket) World Cup," Knight reflected in regards to the 50-over campaign in New Zealand.
"Like T20 World Cups we've learned previously, you don't have a lot of time to make any slip-ups. And obviously, we didn't start particularly fast in that last World Cup in Australia (in 2020)."
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England come into the tournament with a new coach in Jon Lewis, and the side have good away form, accounting for the West Indies in the Caribbean, clean-sweeping Hayley Matthews' team 5-0.
On paper, England are favourites to claim victory again, this time in the searing Paarl heat, though Knight is aware of executing plans from the off.
"It's been a key focus for us all the time. Actually, any series that we start, we want to really start fast, hit the ground running and really almost get over the top in how I want to do things and our mentality.
"We've certainly talked about that, having a clear plan about how we want to do things and just going out and doing it and being really brave with it."
The skipper returns to the side after sitting out the second warm-up match against New Zealand and temporarily handing the reins to wicket-keeper Amy Jones.
Knight took to the nets as her team played at Western Province Cricket Club, but also needed stitches to treat a cut near her mouth, after being struck in the field in England's first warm-up outing against South Africa.
The skipper laughed off the mini-scare and declared herself ready to go.
"Eating was a bit tricky for a couple of days. Six stitches and a bit of glue patched me up"
"Luckily all my teeth are intact, which is nice. But yeah, feeling good. Just one of those things, a little bit annoying, but yeah, all good to go."
Young gun Alice Capsey is also likely to play despite shoulder concerns in warm-up week.