By RICHARD BOOCK
The Auckland netballers will take a step into the unknown this afternoon when they begin their national provincial championship campaign at Hamilton's Mystery Creek.
Last year's runners-up, Auckland, are hoping to dominate a tournament which is notable not only for the number of title contenders, but also for the
amount of change within the first-division line-ups.
Auckland's reward for finishing in the top two last year is an opening match today against newly-promoted Canterbury, who this season are reflecting the strength of their Coca-Cola Cup outfit, the Flames
Auckland coach Sheryl Hyndman said there had been so much change within the first-division teams that no one really knew which side were going to stand out.
"Everyone's a bit nervous in our camp at the moment because there are so many questions still out there, so many unknown quantities" she said. "Most of the teams have changed, and it's hard to get a gauge on exactly who might be a threat.
"The best thing is to treat everyone the same."
Canterbury start the competition as the eighth and bottom seeds, but with a defensive line-up comprising Villimaina Davu, Belinda Charteris and Anna Veronese, the southerners seem likely to quickly re-establish themselves near the top of the provincial pile.
Perhaps the main concern for Margie Foster's side will be plugging the mid-court gap left by the absence of Julie Seymour.
The other feature match of today's round will involve the no-love-lost southern derby between Otago's student-based side and the Bernice Mene-marshalled Southland line-up.
Manukau - with coach Jan Lunden calling for her side to eclipse last season's third placing - are expected to knock over Manawatu.
Waikato, the defending champions, will start the championship as favourites when they come up against Wellington.
