Netball: Aitken satisfied with Games build-up

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken believes regular exposure to arch rivals Australia has more than prepared her side for the cauldron that is likely to be the Commonwealth Games final.

The Silver Ferns head into the Games as favourites having trounced major opponents Australia and Jamaica in the last year.

However such is the disparity between the teams in the Games that the Silver Ferns will only face one, possibly two, depending on what Jamaican side shows up, big matches in the entire tournament.

Up until the 2003 world championships, the Silver Ferns had struggled with losing the 1999 world championships and the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games finals by three goals or less.

"You'd always like more pressure games but you just have to get on with what you have got," Aitken said.

"Since the world championships we have played Australia more times than we ever have before. More players have now been exposed to that level."

The Games will be Aitken's second. She said the Manchester Games highlighted the importance of rotation during the competition - something she feels she did not do well enough last time.

"I am really pleased with the depth in the squad that we have got. We have to ensure that we have got all 12 jumping out of their skin come the business end."

Although she would never admit it, Aitken must be feeling rather comfortable two months out from the Games.

Having beaten Australia by a record 25-goal margin in October, Aitken has been able to focus on ways of improving what is already a competent Silver Ferns unit while across the ditch Australian coach Norma Plummer has been wielding the axe in an effort to defend her team's Games title.

Still to decide on her final 12 players, Plummer named four untried players in her Games squad - Susan Pratley, Kate Beveridge, Laura von Bertouch and Susan Fuhrmann - dropping lethal wing defence Peta Scholz and midcourter Natasha Chokjlat.

As a result Aitken said Australia now have an air of "unpredictability" about them. "You don't know the difference that a couple of changes can make. Once we get over there we'll be watching them quite closely and hopefully picking up some of the differences they have added to their game.

"You can't trust them, that's for sure."

She said the return of defender Janine Ilitch after having a baby, is going to make "bit of difference in the defence end". The inclusion of giant defender Fuhrmann, 19, is also of interest.

Standing 1.96m tall, Fuhrmann is clearly being earmarked to shut down Irene van Dyk, but whether or not she makes the final cut will depend on her fitness as she is still recovering from reconstructive knee surgery.

Not surprisingly Aitken is confident van Dyk will cope with whoever Australia chose to match against her.

"The thing is Irene's game is just developing so much. She is just unbelievable and a real late bloomer really.

"I think some of the aerial work that she does for a 1.90m woman who is not exactly a spring chicken - is stunning."

While Australia have made a raft of changes, Jamaica have also had a bit of a reshuffle with Oberon Pitterson being appointed head coach replacing Janet Guy who is now in charge of the Jamaican under-21 side.

Aitken said as was always the case with Jamaica, it was difficult to tell which players would line up in the Commonwealth Games.

The Jamaican side have numerous players based in the United States on basketball scholarships. While they tend to front up for world championships, the timing of the Commonwealth Games may make it difficult for them to seek releases from their universities.

"They just need to bring out a couple of giants and it can all change," Aitken said.

"I am definitely confident in the group that we have got but I know that we are going to have to be at our best if we are going to have any hope of taking that gold medal."