Netball: Auckland plan to use stars while they can

Cathrine Latu (left) will play for Auckland Waitakere tomorrow but is expected to be called up to the Silver Ferns. Photo / Dean Purcell

Auckland Waitakere are looking to make the most of their Silver Ferns stars in the opening round of the provincial championships this weekend before national duties kick in.

The preliminary rounds of the Lion Foundation netball championships begin today with the first of four weeks of divisional play before the finals week begins in Porirua on September 28. Auckland, last year's runners-up, have a tough first-up clash tomorrow against an experienced Wellington side, led by veteran midcourters Frances Solia and Cushla Lichtwark.

But Auckland will be bolstered by Mystics stars Cathrine Latu and Kayla Cullen, who are in line for a test call-up for next month's two-match series against England and three Constellation Cup matches against Australia.

Latu and Cullen join the Silver Ferns squad in camp on Monday and should they be selected in the final 12, as has been widely tipped, they will be unavailable for the rest of the NPC.

But Auckland coach Te Aroha Keenan is still happy to use the pair for their opening game this weekend.

"I would obviously love to have Cathrine and Kayla available for the whole campaign, but we just have to make use of them while we can," said Keenan. With a squad of 14, "we do have replacements ready to step in".

Keenan said she was "pretty certain" Latu would step straight into the test side given the lengths Netball New Zealand went to try to have the former Samoan shooter declared eligible for this year's world championships campaign, while she rated Cullen a strong chance as well.

Should the pair get their first national call-up, Keenan's daughter, Tuaine, and Kelly Griffin, sister of Silver Fern Paula, will take their place in the Auckland Waitakere line-up.

It will make for a very young and inexperienced side, but with most of the team a part of the championship-winning Lois Muir Challenge side earlier in the season, Keenan is confident in their ability at this level.

"One thing that is a feature of our team is that we have got a lot of youth. We have two school-kids in there - Kendra Falefitu and Tera Maria Amani - but we've got experience there as well with Rachel Rasmussen, Bailey Mes and Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, so it's a nice balance of players."

Defending champions Canterbury open their campaign against the newly promoted Bay of Plenty side in Tauranga today. With former Silver Fern Maree Bowden and key Tactix stars Ellen Halpenny, Charlotte Kight, Anna Galvan and Jo Trip in their ranks, the Cantabrians are favourites to retain their crown in 2011.

Otago take on neighbouring rivals Southland in Dunedin today in this weekend's other first division match.

In the second division, former Silver Ferns midcourter Jenny-May Coffin will take the court for Netball North in tomorrow's clash against Eastern.

Counties Manukau will take on Tasman in Papakura, while Waikato play Western.

Championships

Round 1, Division 1

Today: Bay of Plenty v Canterbury, Tauranga
Otago v Southland, Dunedin

Tomorrow: Auckland Waitakere v Wellington, Auckland

Division 2

Tomorrow: North v Eastern, North Harbour
Counties Manukau v Tasman, Papakura
Waikato v Western, Hamilton