KEY POINTS:
The Silver Ferns will launch Operation Romelda in Christchurch tonight - a full-court attack to combat the Jamaicans' latest gargantuan shooting weapon.
Since the days they called netball basketball, Jamaica has pulled a very tall shooter out of the hat in world championship year - before the player
is inevitably lured away by an American basketball scholarship.
This year's surprise is Romelda Aiken, a 1.96m giant with an arm span to match, who can also shoot like a dream. In Australia last week, she shot 80 from 85 over her first two international tests - and she's barely 18 years old.
After watching the world No 3 Jamaicans run Australia close in the first test in Melbourne, Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken realised she needed a plan to prematurely cut off any ball headed Aiken's way.
"I thought, crikey that girl's got the longest arms I've seen in a long time and she's going to be an absolutely beautiful netballer. It's going to take a fulltime defence to deal with her," Aitken said.
The solution is to "have a go" on defence - attack from the back of the court, rather than waiting for the ball to be lobbed into the Jamaican shooting circle.
"We'll be pressuring them early," Aitken said. "Someone has to go for the intercept and, if they miss, the next defender has to be ready to go for it - creating a snowball effect. We've got to attack that ball everywhere."
The Ferns are expected to start with their tallest circle defence combination - Casey Williams at goal keep and goal defence Leana de Bruin - with the uncompromising Sheryl Scanlan making a return at wing defence and Laura Langman filling the gap at centre.
The Ferns' midcourt will play a vital role in shutting down the Jamaican feed; Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson urging her team to play a full-court defence.
The Ferns have been honing their elevation skills in camp this week and were pressured under the high ball by the Canterbury men's side on Tuesday night.
On attack, Aitken has asked the Ferns to meet the ball hard - a facet missing in their play during the disappointing tour to England in May.
With Jamaica's signature rugged defence, the Ferns shooters will need to hold their ground - Australia's Sharelle McMahon learned the hard way, coming face-to-face with the floor several times last week in a battle with Jamaican goal keep Kasey Evering. Aitken may choose to start with the more robust Jodi Te Huna at goal attack over Maria Tutaia to combine with Irene van Dyk.
While the Jamaicans appear to play their traditional style at either end of the court, Aitken was impressed with their new approach of patience in the midcourt - the obvious influence of former Australian coach Jill McIntosh, who's worked with the team for the past month.
"They were happy to work the ball up the court, not lob it straight into the shooters," Aitken said. "But they tired towards the end of the game."
The mood in the Ferns camp this week has been upbeat - despite the absence of unavailable vice-captain Temepara George. Wilson says the team's focus is sharper than in the last series.
The importance of winning the next five tests in the space of 12 days is not paramount but victories over the second and third ranked sides would help psychologically before November. "It's our last opportunity to play before the world champs but it isn't the be-all and end-all. If we lose, there won't be panic stations."
SILVER FERNS V JAMAICA
Christchurch, 8.45 tonight, live TV1
* Silver Ferns: Maree Bowden, Leana de Bruin, Paula Griffin, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Sheryl Scanlan, Julie Seymour, Jodi Te Huna, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams, Adine Wilson (c).
* Jamaica: Elaine Davis (c), Simone Forbes, Romelda Aiken, Nicole Aiken, Althea Byfield, Kasey Evering, Nichala Gibson, Sasher-Gaye Henry, Marvetta Murray, Christina Solmon, Peter-Gaye Thomas, Andrea Watson-Herron.
