Netball: De Bruin not done yet

Leana de Bruin will compete for a spot in the 2016 Silver Ferns squad. Photo / Getty Images

Silver Ferns defender Leana de Bruin does not appear ready to pull the pin on her international career.

The 38 year-old has made herself available for next month's national trials in Auckland, where she will compete for a place in the 2016 Silver Ferns squad.

There was speculation de Bruin and a couple of other veterans in the team would step down at the end of this season, but so far shooter Jodi Brown is the only member of the World Cup line-up to announce her international retirement. Earlier this year Joline Henry and Camilla Lees announced their retirement after missing out on the World Cup squad.

Brown signed off her Ferns career in style, playing a leading hand in New Zealand's impressive 11-goal win over the Australian Diamonds in the final Constellation Cup test in Perth last month.

Ferns captain Casey Kopua will miss trials after being granted extended leave until the end of January.

The trials will however signal the return to netball for shooter Maria Tutaia, who made herself unavailable for the Constellation Cup series.

While new coach Janine Southby has included de Bruin and fellow veteran Anna Harrison in the mix, overall the group has a fresh, youthful look to it.

Several fringe members of the New Zealand team over the past couple of seasons have been left out of trials, including midcourters Anna Thompson, Courtney Tairi and Katarina Cooper, and shooter Ellen Halpenny.

Southby will name her first Silver Ferns squad following trials on December 10.