Silver Ferns goal attack Belinda Colling is still unsure whether she will help New Zealand defend their title at next year's world championships in Fiji.
Colling, 30, was named in an unchanged Silver Ferns squad yesterday to face Australia in a three-test series in New Zealand. She has committed to that series but Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said Colling had yet to decide whether she would play in the world championships, now just 10 months away.
"She has had a huge year with the move back from Scotland and she played through the summer in Scotland," Aitken said. "She felt she needed a bit more time and we are happy to give her that."
Colling, mother to one-year-old Max, has admitted she can't see herself playing in the world championships but yesterday said she was still "considering the options for her netball future".
She has a world championship title and Commonwealth Games gold medal and if the Silver Ferns are successful against Australia next month it could provide Colling with the perfect stage to end her career.
Although it would be disappointing to see the tireless Colling go, it would be of some consolation to Aitken to know Jodi Te Huna is on the mend after knee injury and she also has Maria Tutaia.
Aitken will have plenty to ponder as to the make-up of her world championship team.
Ideally teams prefer to head into the gruelling tournament with an even split of four shooters, four midcourters and four defence. If Colling bows out then some head scratching will be needed as to who would take her place.
Aitken will name a wider national squad after this month's national provincial championships from which the world championship team will come.
Australian coach Norma Plummer named a squad of 16 on Sunday which she will carry through to the world championships. But there is room for a further six players to be added over the next few months.
New to the squad are Australian under-21 vice-captain Kimberlee Green, emerging Talent Squad member Natalie Medhurst and centre court player Lauren Nourse, who returns after missing selection last year. A surprise omission is towering defender Susan Fuhrmann.
The Australian squad will have two training camps before the side to tour New Zealand is named.
Next month's series is the last time New Zealand and Australia square off before the world championships. The team named yesterday is the same that beat Australia 52-40 in the first test in July and then lost the second 48-38.
Silver Ferns
For three test series v Australia, October 12 (Wellington, 8.30pm), 14 (Auckland, 7.30pm) and 16 (Christchurch, 7.30pm).
Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Belinda Colling, Adine Wilson (captain), Temepara George, Debbie White, Laura Langman, Leana de Bruin, Casey Williams, Anna Scarlett, Joline Henry, Vilimaina Davu.
Colling still unsure about world champs
Belinda Colling in action. Sandra Mu / Getty Images
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.