Netball: Silver Ferns keen to stay in attack mode

Jodi Brown has a strong relationship with the shooters. Photo / Getty Images

The Silver Ferns will be missing their key strike weapon in the shooting circle for next week's Constellation Cup series against Australia, but the team is determined to stick with their new attacking mentality.

Maria Tutaia's decision to withdraw from the four-test series, which will be coach Waimarama Tau-maunu's last in charge of the team, has left a big hole in the New Zealand shooting circle. Tutaia was a key part of the resurgent Silver Ferns attack in their World Cup campaign earlier this year, with the coaching staff tailoring a game plan to suit Tutaia's impressive long-range shooting accuracy and Bailey Mes' strength on the rebound.

The pair proved it can be a winning formula against Australia - just not when it counted. The Ferns dispatched Australia 52-47 in their pool-play meeting, despite shooting at just 75 per cent, but fell to the Diamonds 55-58 in the final.

Taumaunu still believes the team's new attacking strategy has merit. The out-going coach is confident the likes of Jodi Brown and newcomer Ameliaranne Wells can play a similar role to that of Tutaia.

"Jodi has got a strong relationship with the two shooters that we do have and [Wells] has the ability to play a similar style to Maria. Their shooting isn't as over as Maria, but I still believe they can be effective," said Taumaunu.

"Because we've now got such a strong rebounder, our goal attacks are generally taking the bulk of the penalty shots and I guess against Australia one might expect that there will be a lot of them."

Wells, who made her debut in last year's Constellation Cup series after receiving a shock call-up to the New Zealand side, said she believes she can step up and shoot with the same level of confidence as Tutaia if called into action.

"Maria was definitely putting up a lot more shots [at the World Cup] and I'm the type of player who also likes to go straight to the post. It's just about having confidence to keep doing that for a whole game," said Wells.

The Queensland-born shooter said having Mes under the goal provides a pretty handy safety net as well.

"She's amazing, she's so athletic and that puts a lot more confidence in whoever is at goal attack in knowing they can go to the post more often, because she is so good at getting up there and pulling in those rebounds."

The Silver Ferns assemble in camp in Christchurch today ahead of the opening test on Tuesday. From there, the series moves to Auckland, before finishing up across the Tasman with tests in Melbourne and Perth.

Constellation Cup

Silver Ferns v Australia

October 20: Horncastle Arena, Christchurch.
October 22: Vector Arena, Auckland.
October 25: Hisense Arena, Melbourne.
October 30: Perth Arena, Perth