THEY were the best of friends last week, now they are preparing to be the best of enemies.

While Laura Massaro helped England women to yet another European team title in Holland – an incredible 34th in its 35-year history – she will now go head-to-head with those team-mates at the Allam British Open at the KC Stadium in Hull this week.

Massaro, Jenny Duncalfe, Alison Waters and Sarah-Jane Perry will all be aiming for individual success – but the world number two from Chorley said any rivalry is contained to the squash court.

“We are all very good friends and enjoy each others company,” said the former Albany High School pupil. “I grew up with Jenny and Alison and when we meet up we always have a laugh and go out for meals together.

“Even when we are competing against each other we get along, it’s only when it comes to matches it gets a bit serious.”

Massaro, 28, who lives in Hoghton, enjoys the distraction of the team events and victory in Holland was her sixth European team title success since making her debut in Rimini in 2007.

England’s only defeat in the competition came in 2010 when both Massaro and Waters were both missing through injury.

“Squash is an individual sport so it is good to have these team events when you work for each other rather than just for yourself,” she said. “It was pretty tough because I was up against the number one from each country we faced so while we eventually won again, we were pushed at times.”

That was certainly the case for Massaro who had to dig deep to beat Holland’s Natalie Grinham in a match that lasted 59 minutes while she lost a gruelling five-game match against France’s Camille Serme in the semi final that lasted one hour 14 minutes. But Massaro, who beat Madelaine Perry as England were victorious against Ireland in the final, goes in to the Allam British Open in good form.

She has won her last two tournaments including the Malaysia Open where she beat home favourite and world number one Nicol David in the final.

Massaro has also helped her French team, Mul House, reach the final of the French Cup.

“If you include the Europeans, I have won my last two competitions as well as helping my French team reach the final so I am happy with my form. I could have slipped in another tournament but I decided to work on my training.”

Massaro is unlikely to face England team-mates Waters or Perry – both are the top half of the draw alongside David – but could face Duncalf in the semi finals.

But as always, she is just taking one game at a time – starting against Hong Kong’s Joey Chan in tomorrow’s first round.

“There are some tricky opponents in my half of the draw so I don’t like to look too far ahead,” said Massaro who reached the semi finals last year. “But getting to the semi finals would mean I wouldn’t lose any ranking points from last year.

“If I do that, then I will take it from there.”