Netball: Aitken surrounded by the walking wounded

Ruth Aitken. Photo / Sarah Ivey

If out-going Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken was hoping for a straight-forward assignment in her final five tests in charge, she would have got a rude awakening when greeted with the injury list on the first day of the team's camp this week.

The national squad assembled in camp in Auckland on Monday for the first time since their ill-fated world championship campaign, eager to start a new four-year cycle.

But the new era has got off to a bumpy start with the Ferns' defensive stocks taking another hit after Katrina Grant returned from holiday in Europe with a stress fracture in her foot.

In the shooting end, new squad member Julianna Naoupu's on-going problems with patella tendinitis have ruled her out of contention for the rest of the year, while utility Grace Rasmussen still has a way to go with her recovery from a knee reconstruction.

While injuries are always disruptive, the loss of Grant is untimely given the Ferns are already down a defender - and their best one at that - with captain Casey Williams unavailable for the rest of the year as she recovers from ankle surgery.

It also provides another dent to the Ferns' experience stocks following the retirement of vice-captain Temepara George.

Aitken said the lengthy casualty list means the selectors will be forced to name several new faces in the new test side named on Monday.

"It does provide wonderful opportunities for some fresh young faces."

Not to mention some serious challenges for the coaching staff with two tough series coming up against an ever-dangerous England side and world champions Australia.

Aitken, who will be assisted by Magic coach Noeline Taurua for the two series, acknowledges that regardless of the upheaval in the team, losses will not be tolerated by the public.

"No matter what the composition of the group, the performance is expected and that's what we'll be working towards."

Grant's stress fracture to her second metatarsal is the third foot injury she has suffered in four years - a result of having "delicate tootsies".

The 1.86m defender will be in a moon-boot for the next two weeks and will definitely miss the Ferns' two tests against England early next month. There is a possibility she will be available for the Australian series, but the medical staff are expected to take a cautious approach.

With Williams and Grant out, young Mystics defender Kayla Cullen is now considered a certainty to get her first test call-up. But the New Zealand selectors will have to look outside the squad to fill the remaining gap, with Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, who are both in camp with the team this week as invitees, locked in a head-to-head battle for the final spot.

There are also likely to be changes in the shooting end, with the newly eligible Cathrine Latu expected to slot straight in to the test side.

CASUALTY WARD

Casey Williams: Recovering from ankle surgery, out for the rest of the year.

Katrina Grant: Stress fracture in her foot, out for two tests against England, injury to be reassessed before Australia series.

Julianna Naoupu: Patella tendinitis, out for the rest of the year.

Grace Rasmussen: Recovering from knee reconstruction, out for the rest of the year.