While Australia have made plenty of noise about shutting down the Silver Ferns colossal shooter Irene van Dyk in tonight's test, their biggest challenge is likely to be restraining the significantly shorter but extremely explosive centre Temepara George.
Like most preparing to tackle a team including van Dyk, Australia have
talked a lot about the need to spoil the ball as it comes down court.
While Mo'onia Gerrard and Selina Gilsenan could provide Ferns captain Adine Wilson with some competition, combating the Silver Ferns "pocket rocket" George is Australia's biggest challenge. It is hard to see anyone in the Australian lineup matching her.
In the Commonwealth Games final Jessica Shynn started off marking George but was replaced by Laura von Bertouch towards the end. It is expected one of the two will be given the challenge again, but another option could be Selina Gilsenan, who has been playing centre for the Sydney Swifts.
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said she thought Gilsenan was effective at wing defence during the Commonwealth Games and with plenty of speed wouldn't be surprised to see her at centre.
"I know that [Australian coach] Norma [Plummer] does rate Temepara. Her whole court play and her speed through court is something that is quite difficult to get one over on.
"I certainly felt in the midcourt Australia did a good job [in the Commonwealth Games] and they weren't that far off the pace. They'll be a bit further down the track this time."
While George will almost certainly start at centre, Aitken admitted she was still grappling yesterday with a few positions in her starting lineup.
Wilson, van Dyk, Laura Langman, and Vilimaina Davu are expected to join George in the starting lineup. The biggest dilemmas lie in the goal attack and goal defence positions.
At goal attack the question is whether take a gamble and start with Maria Tutaia or stay with the tried and true Belinda Colling. At goal defence, it is a matter of who is going to start alongside Davu - Anna Scarlett, Casey Williams or even Leana de Bruin.
The Australian side is a lot more difficult to predict. While co-captain Sharelle McMahon is a certainty to the take the court, the question is whether she will team up with Catherine Cox or Susan Pratley.
There are a number of options open to the Australians in the midcourt while on defence it will be interesting to see if Plummer starts with the Sydney Swifts combination of Liz Ellis and Gerrard or assigns a spot to Bianca Chatfield, who did a reasonable job during the Games final.
Looking back on that final, there are discrepancies over the figures. Australia say they had two more attempts at goal while New Zealand believe they had one more attempt - the point is both shooting ends received almost the same amount of ball. New Zealand were just more successful at putting it through the hoop - not only a reflection on the New Zealand shooters but also their defence.
"Australia have got good shooters if they are allowed to be where they want to be. If the defence don't apply the pressure then Australia can take it. That is the reality," Aitken said.
She acknowledged that the Australians would have taken plenty of positives from the Commonwealth Games final and would go into tonight's match confident they could bowl the world champions over.
However, just as confident is a New Zealand side who are determined to extend their winning run over Australia, especially with the world championship a year away.
New Zealand v Australia
First test: Brisbane, tonight 10, live TV1 (NZT)
Second test: Sydney, Tuesday 10pm, live TV1.
Umpires: Chris Campbell (Jamaica), Maggie du Plessis (South Africa).
TEAMS
New Zealand
Irene van Dyk, Belinda Colling, Maria Tutaia, Adine Wilson (c), Temepara George, Laura Langman, Debbie White, Anna Scarlett, Joline Henry, Casey Williams, Vilimaina Davu, Leana de Bruin.
Average number of test caps: 33.6
Average height: 1.83m.
Australia
Catherine Cox, Susan Pratley, Sharelle McMahon (c), Kristen Heinrich, Jessica Shynn, Natalie von Bertouch, Laura von Bertouch, Selina Gilsenan, Bianca Chatfield, Susan Furhmann, Liz Ellis, Mo'onia Gerrard.
Average number of test caps: 27.8
Average height: 1.80m
Netball: By George they've got to stop her
Vilimaina Davu tries to block a shot from Irene van Dyk as Casey Williams and Maria Tutaia (right) look on during Silver Ferns training in Brisbane yesterday. Picture / Michael Bradley
While Australia have made plenty of noise about shutting down the Silver Ferns colossal shooter Irene van Dyk in tonight's test, their biggest challenge is likely to be restraining the significantly shorter but extremely explosive centre Temepara George.
Like most preparing to tackle a team including van Dyk, Australia have
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