By JULIE ASH
The Silver Ferns' goal attack worries were laid to rest last night, with Donna Loffhagen and Belinda Colling confirming their availability for the national squad.
There is a drawback with Loffhagen, however. The 26-year-old is available for the squad, but will miss November's return series against Australia.
She has just
returned with the Tall Ferns from the Olympics and has indicated she is keen to be part of any squad camps.
And she could make her much-awaited return in a series against England in March.
Loffhagen, who last donned the black dress at the 2002 Commonwealth Games, is pursuing a degree in sport and recreation, and her unavailability for the series against Australia is partially due to her desire to catch up on the seven weeks of study she missed during the Olympics.
"I am getting old now and it would be good to have some qualifications," she quipped yesterday.
It has yet to be decided when Colling, who has just moved to Scotland with her partner will return to New Zealand.
Aitken will name a squad at the end of the national championships on Saturday.
With few experienced goal attacks to choose from, the unavailability of Colling and Loffhagen would have left the Ferns lacking in the shooting department.
While Colling's availability was always on the cards, Aitken said Loffhagen's came as a "pleasant surprise".
"I always thought there was still an interest there but there is a lot of things that impact on someone's decision."
Much has been speculated about a fallout between Aitken and Loffhagen, but Aitken said they were "fine".
Loffhagen had originally decided to bypass the Smokefree championships but answered an SOS call from Southland yesterday after star midcourter Adine Harper copped a blow to the head which is expected to sideline her for most of the week.
Loffhagen arrived in Palmerston North yesterday morning and immediately made her presence felt. Coming on in the second half she helped to steer Southland to a convincing 56-22 win over Tasman.
In the top six Canterbury came close to upsetting Auckland Waitakere last night.
Auckland led 12-8 at the first quarter and 23-18 at half time but fell apart in the third quarter which allowed Canterbury to go ahead by two.
Little separated the two in the final quarter but the Auckland defence turned it on and Auckland escaped with a 42-40 victory.
Defending champions Waikato had no problems dismissing Wellington 50-35.
Waikato and Netball North, who beat Otago 46-37 yesterday, are the only two unbeaten sides in the top six.
Today's games
The top six
Canterbury v Otago
Wellington v North
Waikato v Auckland Waitakere
Bottom six
Eastern v Counties Manukau
Tasman v Western
Southland v Bay of Plenty
By JULIE ASH
The Silver Ferns' goal attack worries were laid to rest last night, with Donna Loffhagen and Belinda Colling confirming their availability for the national squad.
There is a drawback with Loffhagen, however. The 26-year-old is available for the squad, but will miss November's return series against Australia.
She has just
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