Netball: Silver Ferns will test full team line-up against Samoa

Everyone will get a go on court. Photo / Richard Robinson

The national selectors placed extra emphasis on versatility when selecting the Silver Ferns Commonwealth Games team.

Today that versatility will be on full display, with Ferns coach Ruth Aitken planning to give all 12 players a run as they open their build-up to the Delhi Games with a one-off test against Samoa in Porirua.

With recalled Ferns Daneka Wipiiti, Leana de Bruin and Anna Scarlett adding to the side's experience and depth, for the first time in a couple of seasons there is no obvious top seven line-up. And that is just the way the New Zealand coaching staff would prefer it heading in to a busy international season that will culminate with the Commonwealth Games tournament in October.

"We're certainly not at the stage where we feel we have a playing seven and a bench, and we don't want to be at that stage for a wee while down the track," said Aitken.

The biggest selection dilemmas appear to be in the defensive end, where the Ferns are flush with talent and experience.

With the four defenders - skipper Casey Williams, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant and Anna Scarlett - all training in both the goal defence and goal keep positions, the options appear boundless.

The Ferns brains trust could also elect to play Joline Henry, who covers the wing defence-goal defence slide, if they feel there is a need to go for a more agile "tracking" type defender to match up on the opposition goal attack.

Scarlett, who will today run out on court for the Ferns for the first time in three years, said the competition for places had added to the nervous excitement in the team.

"I think the test against Samoa will be a time for combinations to be built, so I think everyone will get a go on court, and it will be a time to really step up and perform and show the coaches where we're at and try to really cement your place," she said.

Having been fast-tracked into the Silver Ferns side just a month after announcing she was returning to netball, Scarlett has had to quickly adjust to life back on the hard court. Support from team-mates was accelerating her progress, along with the stern guidance of Silver Ferns assistant coach Waimarama Taumaunu.

There is also much anticipation over how the zippy midcourt line-up of Laura Langman at wing defence, Temepara George in the centre bib and wing attack Liana Barrett-Chase will combine.

The trio were the first choice line-up early last season before a calf injury to Barrett-Chase forced a re-jig.

The shooting end remains the on-going concern for the New Zealand side, with the goal attack spot in particular looking to be once again the Ferns major area of weakness.

Maria Tutaia, the first-choice goal attack over the past two seasons, has had an indifferent ANZ Championship campaign with the Northern Mystics.

If she fails to perform her only back-up is Ferns newcomer Grace Rasmussen.

Certainly Rasmussen has earned high praise indeed from the New Zealand coaching staff for the flair she brings to the shooting end.

How she combines with the likes of Irene van Dyk and Wipiiti against Samoa today is likely to be another key talking point after the weekend.

TEST TIME
* What: Silver Ferns v Samoa
* Where: Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua
* When: 2pm Saturday