Netball: Lees excited about late call up to squad

Camilla Lees (right) has been handed a more direct opportunity to push her case. Photo / Getty Images

The Silver Ferns have made a late change to their touring squad for next week's three-test series against England, with Central Pulse midcourter Camilla Lees called in to replace the injured Grace Rasmussen.

Lees joined her new teammates just hours before the Ferns flew out for the UK late last night, after receiving an early morning phone call from national coach Ruth Aitken on New Year's day inviting her to take part in the tour.

"It was definitely a good start to the New Year," Lees said.

So instead of rejoining the Pulse in Wellington today as they continue their build-up for next month's ANZ Championships, Lees will be jetting her way to England, where she will have the opportunity to pick up her first international cap.

Lees, who was a member of the second-string New Zealand team that picked up a surprise win at the World Fastnet Series in Liverpool late last year, had targeted the pre-season with the Pulse as a chance to work hard on her game.

She considered herself an outside chance, but Lees was determined to impress selectors in the early rounds of the ANZ Championship and stake her claim for world championship selection.

Now she has been handed a more direct opportunity to push her case, Lees said she was even more focused on her goal.

"Singapore is definitely a focus and a goal for me, so that's what I had planned on working towards in the ANZ, just using every opportunity to push my case. So to get to go to England is a huge bonus chance for me and I'm really excited about it," she said.

Lees, a medical student at Otago University, was forced to make herself unavailable for the international season last year because of her demanding study programme. This year she is entering her fifth year of Med School, but she said she would be able to juggle that with a full international netball programme if she was given the chance.

"I've made myself available for the world champs and everything leading up to it as well. It's a real focus for me and I'm ready to put all my effort into it."

Lees had just one training session with the Ferns yesterday before they flew out for the UK.

Rasmussen's injury could prove a major setback to her hopes of securing a place in the New Zealand line-up for the world championships in July.

She was already facing stiff competition for her spot from Canterbury's Anna Thompson, who was included in the team as a fifth shooter after vice-captain Temepara George was forced to withdraw from the tour as she continues her comeback from ankle surgery.

But with Aitken scheduled to name her line-up for the Singapore tournament in mid-March, just five weeks into the ANZ Championship, Rasmussen will have few opportunities to prove she is worthy of reinclusion in the test line-up.

UK SCHEDULE

Silver Ferns team
Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Liana Leota (nee Barrett-Chase), Camilla Lees, Anna Scarlett, Anna Thompson, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams (captain), Daneka Wipiiti.

Silver Ferns v England
1st test, Manchester: Sunday, January 16, 5.45am
2nd test, Nottingham: Tuesday, January 18, 7.50am
3rd test, London: Thursday, January 20, 7.50am
(all games live on Sky)