Netball: Aussie defender Layton happy to be the hunted

Australian defender Sharni Layton knows her team will be the hunted ones at the World Cup - and she wouldn't want it any other way. Photo / Getty Images.

Australian defender Sharni Layton knows her team will be the hunted ones at the World Cup - and she wouldn't want it any other way.

The Diamonds head into this week's tournament in Sydney on the back of a 19-game winning streak, making them heavy favourites to claim their 11th world title in 14 championships. But it also means their key rivals will have been dedicating much of their planning and preparation to finding areas of Australia's gameplan to exploit - a prospect that doesn't faze Layton one bit.

"We love the targets on our backs. That's the only way we really want it to be. We've fought hard to be where we are," she said.

"We know what have to do to be able to get there at the end and it's not taking anything for granted."

While in previous years the top-ranked nations could expect to cruise through the pool play without really being challenged, the new format introduced for the 2015 edition means the big guns are set to meet earlier in the tournament. That means four of Australia's eight games will likely be against fellow top-four sides, including a highly anticipated clash against the Silver Ferns on day three.

But Layton said the demanding schedule does not bother her side.

"That's what we've built our bodies to do, we're in the gym a lot, we're training a lot, so compared to our usual training week it's probably a bit of a download."

The energetic defender has been training especially hard as she looks to force her way into consideration for a starting spot. Layton was the stand out goal keep in this year's ANZ Championship, but when your main rival for the position is inspirational Diamonds skipper Laura Geitz, selection is not so straight forward.

The NSW Swifts star she is happy to wear whatever bib coach Lisa Alexander throws at her if it means getting out on court.

"We have such a special group and I'm always going to train my heart out to get out on court, but at the same time I've also played goal defence, I've also played wing defence and whatever my role is for the team I'll be there for the team."