Netball: Silver Ferns will be forced to share court time

This weekend's much-awaited showdown between the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic and the Southern Steel has been billed as an unofficial national trial, with 16 past and present Silver Ferns taking part.

But New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken may turn up to the match in Tauranga today only to see key players in her national programme sitting on the bench.

With the bulk of New Zealand's playing talent split between the two franchises, both sides are tipped to be semifinal contenders in the ANZ Championship this season. However, this could have severe drawbacks for the national programme, with several players in the Silver Ferns squad having to share court time with other top players.

Aitken admitted she would have preferred to see the playing talent more evenly spread between the five New Zealand franchises, but said she can't dictate to the players where to live.

"Certainly it is not my ideal scenario in terms of having prospective Silver Ferns not getting on court, but we just have to take it on board that players have made those decisions for a variety of reasons and now it's just up to them to force some court time."

Both sides are rich in talent in the defensive end with the Steel defenders Sheryl Scanlan and Katrina Grant sharing the goal-defence bib, while the Magic's Jodi Tod has a battle on her hands trying to force her way on to the court in front of Casey Williams, Leana de Bruin and Joline Henry.

Aitken has identified the goal-defence position as an area where she would like to see depth improve this season and having fringe test players on the bench will not help matters.

The Steel also have an embarrassment of riches in the midcourt, with Wendy Telfer once again likely to be used as an impact player this season at either wing-defence and centre, at the expense of Erika Burgess or Liana Barrett-Chase.

"It'll be interesting to see how the coaches of both Steel and Magic manage to deal with the depth of talent they've got and whether they stick to one line, or they use it in a bit more of mix and match," said Aitken.

In the other big game of the second round, defending champions the NSW Swifts fly west to meet traditional rivals the Adelaide Thunderbirds, both teams notching imposing victories in the opening round last weekend.

The Thunderbirds failed to knock over the Swifts last season and Adelaide captain Natalie von Bertouch said this was something the team were desperate to address tomorrow.

"Unfortunately last year we lost to the NSW Swifts twice and also the Magic, so not that we're taking any other team lightly, but they're two teams we want to go out there against and really make a statement," said von Bertouch.

In tomorrow's late game the Northern Mystics and the Central Pulse will be looking to grab their first points when the two sides meet at the North Shore Events Centre.

Monday night sees another juicy all-Australian showdown, with the Melbourne Vixens meeting the Queensland Firebirds, burned by a last-quarter assault by the Thunderbirds last weekend.

Captain Peta Stephens is hoping to have recovered from a torn calf muscle, boosting the Firebirds' defence against the Vixens' dangerous shooter Sharelle McMahon.

In the only true transtasman encounter of the weekend, the Canterbury Tactix will be looking to lift their lacklustre season opener in their home game against the West Coast Fever on Monday night.

ROUND 2

Today: 2pm Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic v Southern Steel, Tauranga.
Tomorrow: 4.30pm Adelaide Thunderbirds v NSW Swifts, Adelaide; 6.30pm Northern Mystics v Central Pulse, Auckland.
Monday: 7pm Canterbury Tactix v West Coast Fever, Christchurch; 9pm Queensland Firebirds v Melbourne Vixens, Brisbane.