Netball: Ferns fired up for battle on Jamaica tour

KINGSTON - There will be no lack of motivation for the Silver Ferns in their Jamaica tour opener against a President's 12 in Kingston today, says captain Julie Seymour.

The team have spent precious little time together - two days in camp in Christchurch before leaving, and three training sessions since arriving in the Caribbean nation.

The enlarged squad of 14, with the knowledge some New Zealand A players are snapping at their heels, will be trimmed to 12 for this year's Commonwealth Games.

Knowing coach Ruth Aitken has the future in mind and is operating an open-door policy on this tour has meant an earlier than expected intensity.

"We know we're still in that trial situation," Seymour said.

"There's been such urgency in all the trainings - there's a lot of hunger and contesting of the ball.

"That's great. If you can train like that then you can go into a game better for it."

The Silver Ferns will be expected to win their two warm-up matches, against the President's 12 and the Jamaica under-23 side tomorrow, by handsome margins, but there are unfamiliar variables involved that could cause the odd problem.

Aitken has said all 14 players will get a run in the two games before the test series, which means plenty of substitutions.

That can upset the rhythm of a team and players will have to adjust quickly to any changes.

There is also the unpredictable nature of the Jamaican style, which the Silver Ferns do not come up against often.

"All their players are just so athletic. They seem to be able to do things that we just don't think normal people would be able to do," Seymour said.

"You know you're going to have to do everything correctly and that you won't get away with anything.

"Even though we're not playing against the national team there's still the feeling it will be tough and a bit of a battle."

The Jamaican teams also have the advantage of being in the middle of their season and have playing time under their belts, while the New Zealanders are coming off their summer break.

The Silver Ferns had one game during the Christchurch camp against a men's team and have spent their time since ironing out problems that arose during that encounter.

"We haven't needed to spend a whole lot of time on them, but we've worked through them and there's only a couple more things to go," Seymour said.

"Once you've played a game you get a whole set of new things, but you can only train for so long, then you need a game to see where you're at."

The Silver Ferns won't know many of their opponents today, with most being selected from the top four league teams in the local competition. But there will be one familiar face, in former Jamaica captain Connie Francis.

A wily campaigner and frequent visitor to New Zealand during her 14-year international career, Francis will undoubtedly bring out the best in her team-mates.

"She has played extremely well and made a big contribution for the national champions this season," President's 12 coach Patrick Brissett said of Francis.

The criteria for selection to the President's 12 team was based on those who had performed with distinction during the league competition and had come close to making the full Jamaica team.

"They are excited about playing an international team," Brissett said. "Traditionally our President's 12 teams have done well."

With careers hanging in the balance on this tour a solid start is vital for the Silver Ferns.

"We know that everyone's going to get some court time. It will be about adjusting to the different combinations and trying to keep a low error rate while forcing them into errors," Seymour said of the opening match.

- NZPA