Netball: It's surely going to be one hell of a game says Van Dyk

By RICHARD BOOCK

Two out of three has a nice ring to it for crack Silver Fern goal-shoot Irene van Dyk.

The 28-year-old Wellington teacher lines up against Australia tonight for the third time since emigrating from South Africa last year, having already learned about the highs and lows of the drawcard transtasman showdown.

A veteran of 72 tests for South Africa, van Dyk made her debut for New Zealand in the ill-fated 23-goal loss against Australia at Newcastle last year, when she was paired up with Adine Harper in the first half and Donna Loffhagen in the second.

She was then used extensively during the subsequent Fisher and Paykel series against Pasifika and the World Seven, and eventually helped to turn the tables on Australia in November, when the Ferns knocked over the world champions by eight goals at Pietermaritzburg.

New Zealand would love to scotch any suggestions of a fluke by repeating that result in Melbourne tonight.

But they will first have to overcome Australia's proud home court advantage, and the fact that the hosts were able to get a game under their belt in last night's tournament opener against South Africa.

Van Dyk, who is poised to reacquaint herself with Australia's world-class pairing of Liz Ellis and Kathryn Harby-Williams, said New Zealand were ready for another epic contest.

"Harby and Ellis are a brilliant combination and they will obviously come out with all guns blazing, so it's going to be one hell of a game," she said. "We know we need to play hard-ball and we're ready to do that. We've had a pretty useful build-up and the signs are encouraging.

"Australia will be particularly tough to beat at home but I really believe we're ready to do that - I think we're going to do very well."

The 1.90m-tall van Dyk said warm-up games against New Zealand A and the Queensland Firebirds had provided the side with some excellent training opportunities, and partly made up for squaring off against Australia cold.

The Tri Nations competition is effectively split into three mini-tournaments. Each of the three sides will take turns at "hosting" a double-header.

Australia play the first back-to-back tests at Melbourne, South Africa have their turn at Canberra on Tuesday and Wednesday, and New Zealand play the final double-header of the tournament next weekend at Sydney.

Although van Dyk seems likely to be retained at goal-shoot tonight, New Zealand's starting line-up is far from clear.

Question marks hang over whether coach Yvonne Willering will go with Vilimaina Davu or Linda Vagana at goal-keep, and over her choice between Belinda Colling or Loffhagen at goal-attack.

The most likely scenario is that Willering will start the game with the players who served her so well in South Africa last year, meaning Colling might get the nod ahead of Loffhagen - although van Dyk said she was happy to play with either.

"Each player has their individual strengths, and as a goal-shoot you understand that and tailor your game to suit them.

"It doesn't matter to me whether it's Belinda or Donna because they're both quite brilliant, and both have a great deal to offer."

The rest of the court is only marginally more predictable. Harper is expected to line-up at wing-attack, Temepara George at centre and Lesley Nicol at wing-defence, leaving most doubt over who will team up with Bernice Mene in the defensive circle.

But the New Zealand bench should come out of it looking strong, with either Davu or Vagana covering the defensive circle, Jenny-May Coffin and Vic Edward providing the mid-court options, and Colling or Loffhagen backing up the shooters.

New Zealand: Bernice Mene (c), Irene van Dyk, Donna Loffhagen, Belinda Colling, Adine Harper, Temepara George, Jenny-May Coffin, Vic Edward, Lesley Nicol, Sheryl Clarke, Linda Vagana, Vilimaina Davu.

Australia: Kathryn Harby-Williams (c), Liz Ellis, Bianca Chatfield, Catherine Cox, Jacqui Delaney, Alex Hodge, Sharelle McMahon, Nicole Richardson, Rebecca Sanders, Eloise Southby, Peta Squire, Liz Taverner.