Netball: Quarter-finals up the pressure

Australia
* Pool-play results
Game 1: Beat Samoa 81-23
Game 2: Beat Sri Lanka 97-20
Quarter-final opponent: Malawi

Australia have been undeniably impressive through pool-play, racking up the biggest win so far against a hapless Sri Lankan side, 97-20, on Wednesday night. Norma Plummer has been shrewd rotating her team, maintaining a thread of core players while testing others to see how they work with that core group.

New Zealand
* Pool-play results
Game 1: Beat Fiji 80-25
Game 2: Beat Wales 91-21
Game 3: Beat Trinidad and Tobago 75-23
Quarter-final opponent: South Africa

The Silver Ferns have looked slick and confident, maintaining strong intensity in their opening three games. The best was against Wales, the Ferns' A-side (minus shooter Maria Tutaia) putting on a first-quarter 28-2 blitz.

Coach Ruth Aitken got her full squad of 12 out on court in all three games, still ensuring that each of her key players at some point played a full match, to keep them conditioned for the finals.

Jamaica
* Pool-play results
Game 1: Beat South Africa 72-45
Game 2: Beat Botswana 74-23
Game 3: Beat Singapore 93-40
Quarter-final opponent: Trinidad and Tobago

Of the top four sides, Jamaica have conceded the most goals in pool-play, suggesting they don't have the same defensive bite as Australia, New Zealand or England. But that may be deceptive. When they lead by healthy margins, the Caribbean side tend to cruise and drop their defensive intensity. And the Sunshine Girls' main threat is at the other end of the court - 1.96m shooter Romelda Aiken.

England

Pool-play results
Game 1: Beat Malawi 65-33
Game 2: Beat Barbados 74-42
Game 3: Beat Malaysia 95-22
Quarter-final opponent: Northern Ireland

The England side have looked quietly confident going about their business in Singapore. Their shooting circle - a traditional area of weakness - have been posting good numbers, but it's hard to tell until they're put under pressure by top opposition.

They'd been hoping to meet Samoa in today's quarter-final, as the Pacific team are more closely aligned to the Ferns' playing style. But after Northern Ireland's shock 66-37 win over Samoa in their pool match, England will instead tune up for their expected semifinal meeting with the Ferns on Saturday against their neighbours.