Australia have promised experimentation but will also go all out for victory in the netball test against the Silver Ferns in Sydney tomorrow night.
Neither side want to give an edge in the test, but both coaches have expressed a desire to try out different combinations with the Commonwealth Games next March in mind.
"Both teams will go for broke, but each team will, where the opportunities arise, put on the others to give them the run. You have to find out now how they can handle the situation," Australian coach Norma Plummer said.
Plummer is likely to test different combinations throughout the court.
Up front she has an impressive shooting arsenal, with Sharelle McMahon, Eloise Southby-Halbish, Catherine Cox and Megan Anderson all now experienced internationals.
"I am just out to make sure we get the best combinations and the best team, in each position, with the versatility that is required," she told The Age newspaper in Melbourne.
"It is for me now to give it a run and see how it will go."
Imposing Silver Ferns goal keep Vilimaina Davu said the defensive line up had looked at the different shooting combinations the Australians had, but the style of game would be familiar to the New Zealanders.
"They are still the same old Aussie," she told NZPA.
"It's always the same when we battle against Australia, it's always a good tough game."
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has already signalled she will inject youth into a mainly experienced line up.
The match will be Australian captain Liz Ellis' 104th for her country, equalling the record held by former captain Vicki Wilson.
"It's an honour to be equalling Vicki's record as she was such a great player and captain," Ellis said this week.
She said a victory over New Zealand would be nice, although not vital.
"This match will not have a huge bearing on what happens at the Commonwealth Games, but it would give us a level of comfort if we could have a good win over them," she said.
"But by the same token, if we didn't, you don't slash your wrists and give up."
Netball officials are hoping to beat the world record crowd on Wednesday at the Sydney SuperDome.
The record was set when the two teams last met at that venue, last November, when 14,339 people attended.
By yesterday, 12,000 tickets had been sold, leaving Netball Australia chief executive Lindsay Cane confident the record can be broken.
"I want to make sure there is a sea of yellow in the crowd to counter the Kiwis that will come out in force to support the Silver Ferns."
- NZPA
Netball: Aussies to experiment in test
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