KEY POINTS:
New Zealand teams face a journey into the netball unknown when they take on Australian sides in the Trans-Tasman championship.
While the inaugural ANZ championship is evenly shared by the Anzac rivals - five New Zealand sides and the same number from Australia - the results are unlikely to be evenly shared.
Expect an Australian bias in the wins column, former Silver Ferns captain Julie Coney said.
She felt the New Zealand talent had been spread too thin and a couple of teams might suffer for that.
"I'm not sure we have the depth of players in this country for five teams against five Australian teams, and that's purely a numbers thing," she said.
"Maybe three or four New Zealand against five Australian would have been a better balance, but the proof will be in the competition.
"My initial opinion without seeing the competition and seeing how we front up, would be that we might perhaps struggle in that area."
For player development, Coney said the competition would serve New Zealand well.
"A lot more players will be exposed to the Australian style of play, which is good for our depth."
In terms of raising the sport's profile, Coney said Australia was likely to reap the greater rewards.
"We've always had such a higher profile for this sport than Australia," she said.
"They have a couple of players that have a bit of a profile - Liz Ellis, who's now not playing of course, had a bit of a profile in the country and Sharelle McMahon - but, outside of that, you don't hear much about netball in Australia."
The introduction of live game broadcasts on the Fox network would expose the game to a wider audience, she said.
She did not believe the move to broadcasting on paid television in New Zealand would have a negative impact on the netball following.
Rather, the move showed netball was going in the same direction as professional sports such as cricket and rugby.
The move into professionalism had been a long-time coming, Coney said, and this competition was moving netball towards that.
"It's not just a one round event, it's 17 weeks now so it's a much greater commitment to the players, and they're being recompensed now."
There would certainly be a handful of players that could make a living out of netball playing for New Zealand and in a franchise, she said.
"It is a step, it's like we're mirroring the (rugby) Super 14s and that type of competition. I think it's great."
Another concern Coney had was over what would happen to players at a lower level, now the eight-team domestic competition had been pulled in favour of just five top sides.
One team has disappeared from the Auckland region, one from the lower North Island and one from Otago-Southland.
"We've dropped a number of teams off from last year, so of course there will be a number of players who sit outside this competition," Coney said.
"I think it's important we don't lose that next tier of players because we've taken this step."
Coney picked Bay of Plenty Magic as a favourite for the competition, saying the team was brimming with Silver Ferns.
"I think that the Magic have great strength throughout and they'll look dangerous."
Players to watch in NZ sides
Northern Mystics
Catherine Latu (goalshoot, goalkeep)
The up-and-coming Latu made a mark at the 2007 national championships, when named player of the tournament. Her ability to play well at both ends of the court will be a useful tool for the Northern team.
Bay of Plenty Magic
Irene van Dyk (goalshoot)
For more than a decade the outstanding shooter in world netball, van Dyk is a formidable presence. The towering 36-year-old is sure to be heavily marked, so the task for the Magic will be to get a smooth supply of ball to her deadly fingers.
Central Pulse
Sonia Mkoloma (goal defence)
An England defender, the sole international in an inexperienced Pulse side. Mkoloma, 29, who has played for England since 2003 in a career spanning three world championships, is likely to see plenty of rearguard action.
Canterbury Tactix
Julie Seymour (centre)
Long-serving and super fit, veteran midcourter Seymour will captain the franchise. The tireless 39-year-old has played for the Silver Ferns since 1994.
Southern Steel
Megan Dehn (goal attack, goalshoot, wing attack)
Dehn, 33, from across the ditch, as an Australian representative on and off from 2000. Three Australian provincial titles with the Sydney Swifts give the Steel an invaluable insight into what is required to win at this level.
- NZPA
