Netball: How the other contenders shape up

CANTERBURY

Just five players remain from last year's championship-winning side, but with Silver Ferns Vilimaina Davu, Belinda Colling and Jodi Te Huna in the mix, expect to see Canterbury secure a top-four finish.

BAY OF PLENTY

With almost an entirely new team, Bay of Plenty will be looking to improve on last year's 10th placing. Coached by Hikitia Gallagher, the side includes former Diamonds player Anna Senio.

EASTERN

The side should be strengthened this year with the inclusion of Shakers players Charissa Wilson, Rebecca Kupa and Tammy Kupa. The squad also includes Western Flyers defender Jodi Tod.

WESTERN

Made up of players from Manawatu, Wanganui and Taranaki, the side is coached by Western Flyers coach Annette Pearce and includes seven players from the Flyers franchise team.

WELLINGTON

Coached by former netball and basketball international Sheryl George-Burns, Wellington have a huge task ahead in securing a top-four finish. Having lost Silver Ferns Irene van Dyk and Leana du Plooy, Wellington will rely on experienced players such as Frances Solia, Kathy Newman, Lovila Paki and Natasha Bergin.

TASMAN

Finished bottom of the table in last year's competition and without any national representatives, Tasman will probably find the going a little tough.

OTAGO

Coached by Lois Muir, the Otago side appears to have a good mix of youth and experience. Along with Silver Fern Lesley Nicol, the side includes New Zealand A players Stephanie Bond and Katie Richie and former Canterbury midcourter Maree Grubb. Missing from the team are Silver Ferns Adine Harper and Anna Scarlett and former Fern Angela Mitchell, who were all unavailable for the NPC.

SOUTHLAND

Spearheaded by former Silver Fern shooter Donna Loffhagen, the Southland side includes four players from the champion Southland Sting. They have finished in the top six the last three years but with Otago and Auckland Waitakere in their pool for the preliminary matches, Southland will have a fight just to make the top six.

How the competition works

* The 12 regional teams have been divided into three seeded pools based on their placings last year.

* The three pools will play off to determine the top six and bottom six in the first division.

* All 12 teams will then play off in a week-long tournament at Mystery Creek in Hamilton, from September 21-27.

The top six will play off for the national title and the bottom six for seedings for next year's championship.

* A second division, made up of second-grade teams from the 12 regions, will also play in the week-long tournament.

Preliminary group draw

Pool A

Canterbury, Counties and Manukau, Netball North, Tasman.

Pool B

Southland, Otago, Auckland Waitakere, Western.

Pool C

Waikato, Wellington, Bay of Plenty, Eastern.

Pool A

Today: Netball North v Counties and Manukau, AUT, Auckland, 6pm.

Tomorrow: Tasman v Canterbury, Blenheim, 2.30pm.

Sep 13: Counties and Manukau v Tasman, Canterbury v Netball North, both Christchurch, 5pm.

Sep 14: Netball North v Tasman, Canterbury v Counties and Manukau, both Christchurch, 10am.

Pool B

Tomorrow: Eastern v Auckland Waitakere, Napier, noon; Otago v Southland, Dunedin, 1pm.

Sep 13: Auckland Waitakere v Southland, 11am; Otago v Eastern, 1pm, both ASB Stadium, Auckland.

Sep 14: Southland v Eastern, 9.30am; Otago v Auckland Waitakere, 11.30am, both ASB Stadium.

Pool C

Today: Western v Wellington, Palm North, 1pm.

Tomorrow: Bay of Plenty v Waikato, Tauranga, noon.

Sept 13: Waikato v Western, 1.30pm; Wellington v Bay of Plenty, 4pm, both Porirua.

Sep 14: Bay of Plenty v Western, 10am; Wellington v Waikato, 12.30pm, both Porirua.

first-division placings

Canterbury 1, Otago 2, Waikato 3, Wellington 4, Southland 5, Counties and Manukau 6, Netball North 7, Auckland Waitakere 8, Western 9, Bay of Plenty 10, Eastern 11, Tasman 12.