Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby could have a few tough decisions to make when she selects her team this week for the Constellation Cup netball series against Australia.
Silver Ferns coach Janine Southby Photo: Photosport
Southby and her selectors will get together on Monday and she expects to name her team midweek, after she has received updates on how shooter Maria Tutaia and defender Anna Harrison are recovering from their injuries.
The Silver Ferns have just completed a three test series against Jamaica following the Quad Series against Australia, England and South Africa in a whirlwind three weeks.
Southby named a relatively inexperienced 12 player squad for those matches, with four players making their debuts during the six games.
She took the opportunity in the Jamaican series in particular to trial a number of different player combinations on court and many of those new players stamped their mark on the side.
Southby said those who made their debuts during the past three weeks stepped up to the challenge, and there's plenty to consider ahead of the Australian series
"We know coming up against Australia we've got some really hard work to do and we don't have a lot of time to prepare for that as a group, so it's up to us as individuals to go away from here and really keep living those Silver Fern standards.
"I believe in these girls. I think they've got great potential and I think we don't have to wait for two years to see that happen, I actually think we should start demanding to see that now."
Defence has been the strongest part of New Zealand's game over the past three weeks and Southby could have trouble deciding whether to stick with the four circle defenders she already has, or push one of them out for the experienced Anna Harrison.
New Zealand's Jane Watson in action during the Netball Quad Series netball match netball match. Photo: Photosport
Harrison was replaced by Jane Watson in the squad just 24 hours before the Ferns first Quad series match against England last month.
Watson - who made her debut in the first of the Quad Series matches against England - has since played in all six of the tests over the past three weeks and shown herself to be a strong goal keep, winning the most valuable player award in the second test against Jamaica.
Quick turnaround valuable preparation for Australia Series
The New Zealanders have had to play six tests over the course of just three weeks - with the three Jamaican tests played over just seven days.
Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant said that has been valuable preparation for the Constellation Cup, which begins on October 9.
Silver Ferns captain Katrina Grant Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Ferns cruised to victory in all three of their games against Jamaica's Sunshine Girls, but Grant said the team have achieved a lot heading into the Australian series.
"We're learning a lot at training, we're learning about each other on and off the court and that can only serve us well going into test matches against Australia," she said.
"But also this week has also taught us to travel, train and play under fatigue over such a tight week and that will again serve us very well going into that Con Cup because I think it's very very similar.
Katrina Grant said another big bonus of the Jamaican series is that every player has now played in at least two games, so the whole squad has experienced the pressures of international netball.
- RNZ
