Netball: Lifeline for Colling may resurrect test career

Belinda Colling yesterday received a lifeline which could lead to the rekindling of her international netball career.

The former Silver Ferns captain has accepted an invitation to join this weekend's New Zealand squad camp in Auckland. On Monday, a 12-strong team will be named for next month's historic tour to South Africa.

Colling has not played for the Silver Ferns this year after being available, but not selected, for the one-off test against Australia in June or the five-test home series against Team Pasifika and the World VII.

Colling, a dual international, is keen to get back into top flight netball after competing for the New Zealand women's basketball team at the Sydney Olympics, but is playing a wait-and-see game.

"They [selectors] haven't seen me playing and they're using the opportunity [this weekend] to get me on court and probably nothing more than that," Colling said.

"I'm keen to carry on and while there's been a bit of a gap since I played, it hasn't seemed that long to me."

Colling was not helped earlier in the year when she had knee surgery before the completion of the Coca-Cola Cup in May and has had little opportunity to impress the selectors since.

The Otago representative opted out of the national provincial championships in September to concentrate her energies on basketball and the Olympics.

A natural ball player, the former Silver Ferns goal-attack has no concerns about slotting back into netball mode after a length of time out. She has mixed her basketball training with netball stints at club level and helping to prepare the national under-21 team.

The New Zealand squad have lost a core of experience with the withdrawals of Julie Seymour and Belinda Charteris, who are both pregnant, and shooter Donna Loffhagen, who wants time out after she also competed in the women's basketball tournament at the Olympics.

"I'm a bit tired and haven't really had a chance to sit down yet since returning from the Olympics, so it is really a little bit of waiting to see how this weekend goes," Colling said. "But it's four weeks or so away before South Africa and I think by that stage I'd be okay. I want to give this a crack. The Ferns have not had such a good year. I think I could give a lot to them and I think they need it."

Colling will join the New Zealand squad for fitness work, skill sessions and several trial matches against a New South Wales selection at the weekend.

The withdrawals of Seymour, Charteris and Loffhagen mean there are holes to be plugged in the defence, midcourt and shooting areas of the court.

Trialists: Irene van Dyk, Daneka Wipi'iti, Adine Harper, Tania Nicholson, Nicolette Ropati, Belinda Colling, Anna Rowberry, Temepara George, Jenny-May Coffin, Lesley Nicol, Sheryl Clarke, Anna Veronese, Leigh Price, Bernice Mene, Linda Vagana, Vilimaina Davu.

- NZPA