Auckland Waitakere have lost out in securing Silver Fern Lesley Nicol for this year's national netball championship.
Nicol, who is on holiday in Europe, will move to Auckland next month. But she has decided to play for Southland in this year's championship. Preliminary games are on September 4.
With SilverFern captain Anna Rowberry out with a knee injury received against Australia, Nicol's presence would have been a huge boost for the Auckland side.
"She would have been a big bonus if she had come," said Waitakere coach Judy Weston.
"But that is okay ... we have got quite a good group of young girls coming through."
Silver Fern Victoria Edward and promising youngsters Rachel Rusmussen, Krystal Opetaia, Bridgette Tapene and Katrina Grant are all trialling for the side.
Former Australian captain and Diamonds player Kathryn Harby-Williams has opted not to play in the championship.
The Auckland team will hold their second round of trials this weekend.
North Harbour coach Yvonne Willering said everyone in the Force team apart from Linda Vagana and Matelita Shaw, who has returned to Fiji, were available.
