KEY POINTS:
Despite recording just one win in a pre-season tournament in Sydney over the weekend, Northern Mystics coach Yvonne Willering insists there is no cause for concern just weeks out from the start of the ANZ Championship.
While the games highlighted plenty of areas her side needed to improve
on, she is not ready to hit the panic button just yet.
The Mystics recorded one win, a draw and five losses in their seven matches at the weekend, with the Australian teams having the most success.
Sharelle McMahon's Melbourne Vixens won six of eight games, while NSW Swifts won six of nine.
The Australian teams are reported to be training five or six times a week, whereas the New Zealand franchises' playing, training and promotional activities are restricted to just 15 hours a week under the collective agreement with the New Zealand Netball Players Association.
But Willering believes these restrictions weren't behind her side's poor results over the weekend.
"I thought we started the tournament very well, but as the weekend went on we got more tired and the Australians are a bit more used to it, I guess."
Willering said the scoreline in the weekend's matches was irrelevant as she was more interested in getting all her players out on court to get familiar with the Australian style of play.
Of more concern to the former Silver Ferns coach was the way her side reacted to umpiring decisions and handled the tight man-on style of Australian defence.
"Certainly one of the issues that came up was when an umpire made a call and we didn't quite understand it, we took far too long to adjust whereas the Australians are far sharper with regards to that."
The Australian umpires handling of obstruction and contact rules differ to what her side are used to, she said.
"With the close marking through the court - I know they're playing advantage but we're sort of saying 'we'll hang on, there's no advantage to be gained'.
"It's really hard as it's not something you can practise because our umpires really would pull all that stuff up."
With star defender Leana de Bruin rested over the weekend as she recovers from ankle surgery and Sheryl Scanlan sitting out the latter stages of the tournament after turning her ankle, the Mystics were unable to put out a full-strength team in the tournament.
Also missing over the weekend was Vilimaina Davu, who the Mystics hope to have on board by the start of the championship.
The Mystics are appealing against Netball New Zealand's decision to veto the inclusion of Davu in the Auckland squad.
The outcome of the appeal is not likely to be known until at least the end of next week - just two weeks out from the start of the competition.
Willering admits they are cutting it fine with assembling their full squad.
"I think it's going to come to a stage soon where we're just going to introduce her to the team.
"Because we can't wait to the beginning of the competition to bring her into the team," she said.
But does Willering have a plan B should the Davu appeal be unsuccessful?
"No, because as far as I can see there's just no reason why we shouldn't be having her.
"We would not be going through this process if we didn't think that she would add tremendous value to our team. So what would happen if we didn't get her? Talk to me when that happens."