Survivor Joshua on the ball

Cancer survivor Joshua Coleman, 14, has been chosen to carry the ball out when the Silver Ferns meet England tonight. Photo / Stephen Parker

A Rotorua teenager who's had a long battle with cancer is set to take a starring role when the Silver Ferns take on England tonight.

Joshua Coleman, 14, will carry the ball out with the Silver Ferns to start the game at the Energy Events Centre.

Joshua was chosen as part of a partnership between New World and Starship Children's Health, but only found out about it a few days ago.

"I'm really excited. It's the chance of a lifetime. It's unexpected," he said.

Joshua is a self-confessed sports fan, with rugby, soccer and netball just some of the games he loves to watch.

He has battled cancer since a cancerous tumour was discovered in the back of his brain in 2007.

He received radiation for more than six weeks, chemotherapy for another 12 months and has spent months in and out of Starship and Ronald McDonald House.

He also spent months after his cancer treatment learning to walk and talk again.

Joshua's dad, Mike Coleman, said it was remarkable his son was going to be walking out on to the court tonight.

"It's been a very long and very hard journey and it hasn't stopped. It's ongoing and it doesn't get any easier ... being able to do something like this means a lot, it's something that puts a smile on his face."

While Joshua is now clear of cancer he still has to get yearly MRI scans and take growth medication daily.

His mother Donna Coleman said Starship staff were still in touch offering their support.

"Without Starship's or Ronald McDonald House's help, I don't think we could have done it."