Netball: Silver Ferns plan limited build up

Netball New Zealand insist they have the right formula to ensure Commonwealth Games success next year, despite the Silver Ferns having just half the number of buildup tests of main rivals Australia.

The national body is putting the finishing touches on the Ferns' 2010 programme having secured five tests in the lead-up to the Dehli Commonwealth Games in October.

The Ferns will play two home tests against Jamaica in August, before taking on the Australians in a three-test series, with two of those matches to be played across the Tasman.

The Diamonds meanwhile have a jam-packed test calendar ahead, starting with February's UK tour where they will play two tests against Scotland and three against England. Australia will also take on the Jamaicans while the Sunshine Girls are downunder in August, before their three tests against the Ferns.

The Australians are also hoping to squeeze in a training camp in India either en route or on the way home from the UK in February.

The Diamonds' intense pre-season build-up has left some New Zealand netball fans nervous, believing the Ferns will be under-prepared compared to their transtasman rivals.

On the flipside there have been murmurings across the Tasman that playing nine or 10 tests before the start of the Commonwealth Games is overkill - particularly in light of the heavy injury toll that has hit the Diamonds camp over the past two seasons.

In putting together next year's schedule, the New Zealand coaching staff faced the difficult challenge of trying to tread the fine line between ensuring the Ferns leave no stone unturned in their preparation for the Games and making sure the players aren't burnt out by the time the event rolls around.

Netball NZ high performance manager Tracey Fear is confident they have achieved that balance.

She believes it is not necessary for the Ferns to tour at the beginning of the year.

"[Australia] are playing two tests against Scotland and three against England in February, so that's five tests that you could argue at that time of the year won't be that beneficial. Whereas we think our most important preparation time is going to be July-August-September," she said.

"The international tests are great but it's what we do in that time following the test matches and before the Commonwealth Games to make sure that we come out better than what our opposition experience from us in August and September that will be the key."

"We'll be taking the learnings from our international matches against Jamaica and Australia and making sure we've got a plan A, B and C game that we can consolidate before Commonwealth Games."

Fear said the only concern is the Ferns won't get an opportunity to play the ever-improving world No 3 England side before the Dehli Games.

"Ruth [Aitken] and Wai [Taumaunu] will be keeping a close watch on the Australia-England games that are coming up in February next year. What we don't actually experience, we'll be making sure we'll be doing the due diligence on what our key competitors are doing."

The New Zealand coaches hope to set the tone for the year with a two-week camp in Brisbane in early January.

Fear said the main focus of the camp will be on strength and conditioning and "putting the players in an uncomfortable position from a heat perspective".

"There'll also be the game strategies that the coaches will want to embed and consolidate from this year, so that players know going in to ANZ Championships what is expected of them."

2010 SCHEDULE

Early January - Two-week training camp in Brisbane.
Late July - Commonwealth Games team named after Silver Ferns trials.
August/September - two tests against Jamaica, three against Australia (one in NZ).
September - Training camp in Melbourne.
Late September - Assemble for Commonwealth Games. Travel to India to prepare outside of Dehli, before moving in to the Games Village.
October 3-14 - Commonwealth Games, New Dehli.
November - World Fastnet Series, Manchester.