Netball: Geitz to miss remainder of Constellation Cup

Australian captain Laura Geitz will be rested from the remainder of the Constellation Cup. Photo / Getty

Diamonds captain Laura Geitz will sit out the final two games of the Constellation Cup in one of a couple of changes to the team for the Australian leg of the series.

Geitz and young midcourter Gabi Simpson will be rested for the remaining tests in Melbourne and Perth, making way for the uncapped duo of Ashleigh Brazill and Jo Weston.

Midcourter Brazill and defender Weston will join their Diamonds teammates in Melbourne today when the team returns home with a 2-0 series lead over Silver Ferns following victories in Christchurch and Auckland.

The 58-48 victory in Auckland on Thursday capped off a remarkable year for Geitz, who captained the Queensland Firebirds to a second ANZ Championship premiership and the Diamonds to the Netball World Cup title on home soil in August.

Simpson returns home with two test appearances to her name after the 23-year-old made her Diamonds debut in the 50-44 win over the Silver Ferns in Tuesday night's opener.

"Player management is really important to ensure the performance and longevity of our athletes aren't compromised as we move into a new high performance cycle ahead of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool," Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander said.

"After such a big year on and off the court, the national selectors and I are mindful of our athletes' physical and mental well-being, particularly those who contested the 2015 ANZ Championship grand final and Netball World Cup.

West Coast Fever's Brazill is a step closer to making her long awaited international debut three years after injury forced the 25-year-old to withdraw from the Diamonds team ahead of the 2012 test series.

Melbourne Vixens defender Weston will be reunited with her former Australian 21/U teammates Paige Hadley, Kim Ravaillion and Gretel Tippett, who won silver at the 2013 World Youth Netball Championship in Glasgow.

Renae Ingles, who missed the second test with a calf strain, will assume the role of acting captain for the remainder of the Constellation Cup series subject to passing a fitness test ahead of game three on Sunday.