Netball: Harper the key to Silver Ferns make up

The versatile Adine Harper holds the key to what shape the Silver Ferns will take heading into the two-test netball series against South Africa on November 1 and 2.

It is expected the talented Harper will earn a recall after being dropped for the Barbados series and Commonwealth Games earlier this year when Ruth Aitken names her team on October 31 after a four-day camp.

Harper made an impressive start to her international career as a goal attack in 1999 before emerging as a quality candidate in the midcourt during 2000-01.

However, the Otago physical education and law student found herself on the outer this year, an increase in the talent pool in both the shooting and midcourt areas resulting in a drop in the pecking order.

An outstanding athlete, Harper looks set to resume her promising career with Aitken needing to at least fill the holes left by defender Linda Vagana (retired), shooter Donna Loffhagen (taking an indefinite break from international play) and midcourter captain Julie Seymour, who is pregnant.

In a hectic finish to a busy year, the South Africa series marks the beginning of the campaign towards July's world championships.

There is added sting to next week's camp with trials being conducted on the Wednesday and Thursday before the first of the back-to-back tests is played the next day (November 1).

It is the first time in over 10 years that trials have been held to help select the Silver Ferns and Aitken said they will have an important bearing.

"It allows me to have a look at combinations that you don't normally see play together or a position that you might be looking at a certain player for," Aitken told NZPA.

"It just adds to the final piece of the puzzle.

"The players have to front up - it adds a nice little bite to the end of the training camp."

The nine who remain from the epic Commonwealth Games final, which needed two spells of extra time before Australia prevailed by the necessary two-goal winning margin, are likely to be retained.

The prospect of Harper being named in a shooting role has strong appeal, the variety of speed and athleticism adding to the height of Daneka Wipiiti and Irene van Dyk and the playmaking skills of Belinda Colling.

Others in the shooting frame are under-21 captain Jodi Te Huna and tourist to Jamaica this year Angela Evans.

That would leave the remaining midcourt spot a contest between the flair of former Silver Fern Temepara Clark and highly talented fringe player Amigene Metcalfe.

With an eye to the future it would be no surprise if the vacant defensive position went to promising Otago rookie Anna Scarlett.

Former South Africa defender Leana du Plooy has improved immeasurably since coming to New Zealand last year and will get better, leaving her in the frame for the world championships.

Aitken said the loss of the experienced trio of Seymour, Loffhagen and Vagana should act in a positive way.

"It adds extra enthusiasm from a coaching point of view and a new chemistry from the players will come out on court," she said.

"It's a bit different - everybody steps up a notch because they know they can't rely on the same old, same old. People will want to put their hands up and it should be very interesting."

Aitken feels there is a strong enough core of experience and depth remaining to cover the losses.

The coach has two former Silver Ferns captains in Lesley Nicol and Belinda Colling in the ranks but could well go outside those two in seeking a replacement for Seymour.

Anna Rowberry, who was recalled this year after 18 months on the outer, looms as a strong candidate.

Rowberry, 26, has matured as a player since returning but still retains her trademark explosive speed and flair. She is almost a certainty for the starting line-up. The extra responsibility of captaincy could add the finishing touches and she appeals as the best candidate to lead the side beyond the world championships.

- NZPA