Netball: Choices and problems for Ferns coach in test line-up

By JULIE ASH in Invercargill

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has some tough decisions to make before naming her starting lineup to face Barbados in the first test in Invercargill tonight.

Aitken has several options in every position, but of most interest will be the wing attack spot, which has caused some concern.

Having dropped regular midcourt players Adine Harper and Temepara Clark in favour of Jenny-May Coffin and Anna Rowberry, Aitken will be expecting her new selections to prove she made the right choice.

In tonight's game, Coffin is likely to start at wing attack, having impressed in the Silver Ferns last outing, against Jamaica.

With 12 test caps to her name, Coffin, like Rowberry, is athletic and fast.

But the key for both will be maintaining possession and showing they can connect with the shooters.

For the more experienced Rowberry, who is back in the side after 18 months, the recall is a chance to show she has worked on changing the tempo of her game and feeding a stationary shooter.

Belinda Colling provides another option at wing attack, but doesn't have the speed and flair of Rowberry and Coffin.

Aitken said the midcourt line-up would be "interesting."

"Certainly we will be looking at that combination with the option of Jenny-May and Anna," she said.

"And then Belinda is also another player with a different style.

"We'll make sure that we have a good look at those options."

Another area in which Aitken faces some tough decisions is in the defence.

Experienced campaigner Linda Vagana is likely to start at goal keep, but Aitken has the option of using either Anna Veronese or Sheryl Clarke at goal defence.

Also in the defensive mix is goal keep Vilimaina Davu, who combined well with Veronese for the Canterbury Flames in the national league.

Because Davu is taller than Vagana, she may be used if Barbados opt to play 1.93m Laurel Browne at goal shoot.

Donna Loffhagen and Irene van Dyk are expected to be the goal attack and goal shoot for the Silver Ferns.

Captain Julie Seymour will start at centre, and 78-test veteran Lesley Nicol may edge out Clarke for the wing defence spot.

But although Aitken has a number of options in all areas of the court, she is unlikely to chop and change players as she did in Jamaica this year.

This series is the team's last hit-out before the Commonwealth Games, and although Aitken will experiment to some degree, the aim is to develop strong combinations.

The Silver Ferns are expected to meet Jamaica in the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games, which means the series against Barbados is their only chance to figure out a way to counteract the aerial and physical Caribbean style.

Seymour said a win in the first test was the aim, but so was a good performance.

"We always aim to win, but we need to develop combinations because we really see this as stage one of the big picture."

The match will start in front of an almost sold-out Stadium Southland at 8pm.

Silver Ferns: Irene van Dyk (Wellington), Donna Loffhagen (Southland), Daneka Wipiiti (North Harbour), Belinda Colling (Canterbury), Anna Rowberry (Auckland), Jenny-May Coffin (Waikato), Julie Seymour (Canterbury), Lesley Nicol (Southland), Sheryl Clarke (North Harbour), Anna Veronese (Canterbury), Linda Vagana (North Harbour), Vilimaina Davu (Canterbury).

Barbados: Laurel Browne, Denise Alleyne, Linda Harris, Latonia Blackman, Sherry Ann Martindale, Julie Phillips, Stacy Forde, Olivia Walcott, Cheryl Squires, Rhonda Harris, Linda Wilson, Don Small.