Canterbury coach Tania Hoffman believes the strength of her bench has been a contributing factor in her side's success in the national championships.
Canterbury were the only unbeaten team at the completion of section play yesterday, winning section A ahead of North and Otago.
Waikato and Southland were joint winnersof section B after the sides drew in New Plymouth. Waikato were awarded top spot on goal average.
In today's double header, Canterbury have the arduous task of taking on Auckland Waitakere and Southland.
For four quarters, they will be without key defender Vilimaina Davu. She has a knee injury and Silver Ferns carrying niggly injuries are restricted to that much game time on double-header day.
It is also understood that Southland's Adine Wilson, who also has a knee injury, is in the same position and possibly even Irene van Dyk, who now has her thigh strapped.
North's Temepara George has already been rested a lot and had Monday off at the suggestion of her coach, Melissa Walker.
While it will be tough without Davu, Hoffman said her bench players had been going well.
"I have the utmost confidence in the whole 12 players, which is not something we often have.
"Being able to put on combinations and knowing that they are going to work well is great."
Hoffman said her team had a little way to go before they reached their full potential.
"We are still making silly little mistakes. We are still finding it hard to get it away and consistency more than anything else."
* The 12 first division teams have been split into a top six and a bottom six where they will play three more games against the teams from the other section. Once those games have been completed on Thursday, the teams will be ranked one to 12. The top four teams then play off in semifinals 1 v 4 and 2 v 3; the winners meet in Saturday night's final. The same process applies for the other teams in the middle and bottom four.
