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The Magic's inconsistent form over ANZ Championship has led to serious questions over how the Silver Ferns will fare in the international season.
After the Magic's poor performance in the transtasman final against the NSW Swifts, attention now turns to the national programme, with Ferns coach Ruth Aitken
set to name her extended New Zealand squad tomorrow.
With five first-string Silver Ferns in their line-up, the Magic team that suffered a demoralising 65-56 loss in Monday night's final will form the nucleus of the test side for the September-October internationals against Australia and England.
It will be a troubling thought for Aitken, given the Magic were outplayed by a comparatively inexperienced Swifts side.
The Swifts have just three international players in their ranks, with their combined 119 test caps dwarfed by the Magic's 257.
Swifts captain Catherine Cox believes her side's dominance of the Magic in the transtasman league, combined with Australia's World Championship win last year, gives the national side a huge mental edge.
"There's a little bit of confidence there, definitely," the Australian shooter said.
"When you think we've only got three Australian players in the Swifts line-up and we've managed to topple pretty much a Silver Ferns team, it's encouraging."
But the number of Swifts with international experience is expected to grow when Australian coach Norma Plummer names the Australian squad today, with midcourters Kimberlee Green and Vanessa Ware, and defender Rebecca Bulley in line for call-ups.
Champion NSW coach Julie Fitzgerald believes these players deserve recognition for their strong performances this season.
"I think they showed they can mix it against the best international players in the world," Fitzgerald said.
But the international season is the last thing on the mind of Magic defender Casey Williams, who is looking forward to a couple of weeks of time out after a mentally draining ANZ Championship campaign.
Williams will holiday in Thailand before linking up with the Silver Ferns to begin their preparation for the home series against Australia, beginning in Christchurch on September 17.
The Magic's loss had shades of last year's World Champs defeat about it for Williams, who on both occasions was the champion player on the non-championship team. Williams said her side let themselves down badly but expects it will only strengthen their resolve when they meet Australia.
"It's definitely going to fire us up. But I'm not thinking about that now, I'm thinking about my holiday I'm going on next weekend, so I guess when I come back I'll look at that and approach the other part of my life."
Both New Zealand and Australia will name extended national squads over the next 48 hours, with Aitken and Plummer expected to confirm their test line-ups before the end of August.
