The Silver Ferns will be one of Vilimaina Davu's first opponents in her new role as coach of Fiji.
Davu was yesterday named as coach of the Fijian netball side for next year's world championships in Suva.
"I've always wanted to come back home and give something back
to the sport that gave me so much," Davu told the Fiji Times.
Announcing her retirement from international netball last month, Davu, 29, initially denied she had been approached about the job, which became vacant after the resignation of Australian Megan Simpson.
However, a few days later she revealed to the Herald that she was in talks with Netball Fiji officials. "It is an amazing opportunity," she said.
Netball Fiji president Alice Tabete said that, although there were overseas applicants, Davu was the best choice for the job.
Davu played 55 games for Fiji before switching to New Zealand in 2000. It is understood her contract with Netball Fiji is worth somewhere between $60,000 and $90,000 a year.
Davu is planning to hold trials in Fiji on December 16.
Her first assignments will be matches against Australia and New Zealand early next year.
It is unclear whether Davu intends to play for Fiji in the world championships.
International rules state that if a player has played for one country in a world championship - as Davu did for New Zealand in 2003 - she cannot play for another in the following one.
There are exceptions, one relating to a player being allowed to play for her country of birth.
But before that happens it would have to be approved by the international netball federation board.
Davu will play for the Force in next year's National Bank Cup. However, yesterday coach Yvonne Willering said she would have to meet Davu to work out how the two roles could be managed.
