Netball: Sidelined Dalton forces selectors to examine the mix

By JULIE ASH

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken may be leaning towards adding another midcourter or defender to her world champion side for next month's series against Australia.

The Silver Ferns were dealt a blow ahead of the series when Sting shooter Tania Dalton snapped the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee, ruling her out for at least six months.

With the side announced on Tuesday the problem Aitken and her selectors have is that apart from Irene van Dyk, Belinda Colling and Jodi Te Huna, who were all part of last year's world championship winning side, there have been no other shooters who have put their hands up.

The main contenders - former Silver Ferns Angela Mitchell and Daneka Wipiiti and Shakers shooter Katie Ritchie - are all struggling for consistency while Donna Loffhagen, who is one of the competition's most accurate, is not available because of her commitments to the Tall Ferns.

"The bar has certainly been raised in terms of our shooting expectations now," Aitken said.

"Once upon a time if people were in the mid-70s [per cent] and occasionally in the 80s that is what we were quite comfortable with.

"Now the expectation is they should be up in the high 80s.

"It is something players need to work on. I think it is good old-fashioned practice and making sure you practise under pressure and really get those mental aspects right."

Aitken took four shooters, four midcourters and four defenders to last year's world championships in Jamaica but she may alter that configuration, especially since Sting midcourter Adine Harper can step into a shooting role if required.

"There is that option certainly because the series is in New Zealand, we do have the ability to call in a replacement if there is an injury ... the selection panel will debate which configuration is best and it depends who is pushing their case most."

Those who are pushing their cases are Diamonds midcourter Victoria Edward, Otago defender Stephanie Bond, Magic defenders Joline Henry and Casey Williams and possibly even young Magic midcourter Laura Langman.

With Silver Fern captain Anna Rowberry just returning after a month on the sideline with a broken arm, her Diamonds team-mate Edward has made a strong case for a recall and would be an able replacement should Rowberry's arm give her any trouble or if Harper is moved into a shooting position.

While it could be argued the series is an opportunity to blood a new shooter leading up to the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Aitken said she would like New Zealand to see the Silver Ferns at their best.

"This series is really important to us because it is the first time we have played Australia at home since 2001."

Aitken said she had been happy with the standard of play in the National Bank Cup, especially the defence, but would like to see an improvement in decision-making when feeding into the circle: "Sometimes there has been a tendency to overplay the long feed where we actually need to work it in flat."

The Silver Ferns start a two-day camp on May 21 before regrouping on June 23 for the three-test series which starts in Christchurch on June 30.