The Northern Mystics will be taking all of its young guns to the ANZ Netball Championship's "Summer Shootout" in Melbourne.
Coach Debbie Fuller has included seven age-group reps, who are all under 21, in the line-up for the official pre-season tournament this weekend.
Team members Elisapeta Toeava, Erikana Pedersen, NadiaLoveday and Temalisi Fakahokotau will be joined by training partners Jessica Bourke, Kirsten Hurley and Tera-Maria Amani at the tournament, in which all 10 trans-Tasman teams will compete.
Amani, Bourke and Hurley will be providing cover for Bailey Mes and Kayla Cullen, who are working towards a return to the court after knee surgery last year, as well as Jodi Tod-Elliott who has an ankle niggle.
Fuller says all seven will be given game time, given the "intense workload" during the two-day tournament. "We've got to have a really strong group of players who can hold their own at ANZ Championship level."
She put her young charges on court at last weekend's pre-season game against the Vixens in Tasmania in which the Mystics went down 73-79 to the Australian side. "It was a baptism by fire, but it was good for them," she says.
In that match, Anna Harrison sustained a foot injury - which is still being assessed - so former Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic player Jessica Tuki will provide cover for her this weekend.
