Netball: Championships lead up intense for Ferns

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Silver Ferns will need to make the most of their limited time together as the countdown to the world championships begins.

Having trained in "clusters" over the past few weeks, the full squad yesterday assembled for the first time - just a month out from the start of the Singapore tournament.

And coaches Ruth Aitken and Wai Taumaunu wasted little time in getting down to business in Lower Hutt, quickly setting the tone for what will be an intense build-up to the sport's pinnacle event.

Their preparation includes a two-test series against Australia, one of their key rivals for the world championship crown.

The sides will meet on Thursday night in Palmerston North and in Auckland next Sunday.

The series poses an interesting challenge for Aitken. The New Zealand coach will be reluctant to reveal her full hand so close to the championships and will be keen to experiment with her line-up.

That's not such a risky proposition in the midcourt and defence end, where the Ferns are blessed with great depth.

But developing further options in the shooting circle to back up frontliners Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia will be crucial, with newcomers Paula Griffin and Anna Thompson the only changes to the team that won gold at the Commonwealth Games.

Aitken is hopeful of giving the pair some solid court time in the two tests, but there is that all-important psychological edge to be gained and Aitken won't want any blooding of players to be at the expense of a series win.

The New Zealand team are determined to make a strong statement ahead of the Singapore championships, where they hope to wrestle the crown from Norma Plummer's young Australian side.