Netball: Australia will be better prepared, says McMahon

Australia say they will be better prepared than four months ago when they take the court for their netball test against New Zealand in Auckland tonight.

In June, the world champion Silver Ferns won a highly physical encounter between the trans-Tasman rivals in Sydney 50-43.

Australian vice-captain Sharelle McMahon said yesterday that the Australians had had just four days preparation before going into that match.

"This time, we've had a lot more time together, so that's good," she said.

"We're not halfway through our season as well, so we're really focusing on just the national programme.

"We're feeling really good coming into this test. We feel like we've put together some great training camps."

One area in which the Australians will want a significant improvement is in their shooting.

In Sydney, they put up more shots than the Silver Ferns, but paid for a below-par 67 per cent success rate.

McMahon skirted the issue, when asked if she and her fellow Australian shooters had put in extra work to lift their accuracy.

"Not particularly, we always work hard on that," she said.

She added that the Australians regarded the upcoming test as a self-contained challenge.

But they also had the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March -- and a possible third consecutive gold medal -- at the back of their minds.

"We won't be holding anything back, we'll be putting it all out there for sure," she said.

"We'll be treating it as a very important game, but we have one eye on the Commonwealth Games as well. We know this is all part of the preparation for that."

New Zealand-Australia clashes have become increasingly physical, but visiting skipper Liz Ellis also indicated that the fierce rivalry did not necessarily extend off court.

Ellis said she was "rapt" when he heard that the experienced pair of Belinda Colling and Anna Rowberry, both former test captains, were back in the New Zealand squad.

Colling and Rowberry's last test was 15 months ago in New Zealand's 3-0 home series victory over Australia.

Colling has since become a mother, while Rowberry has returned from a serious knee injury she suffered in the final match of that series.

"I'm friends with both of those girls and we've exchanged emails in the last couple of months," Ellis said.

"I was really pleased for both of them to be back and they'll add a huge amount of experience to their side."

Ellis will set an Australian record when she runs out at Trusts Stadium for her 105th match for country.

- NZPA