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The reality that the World Championships are almost here will set in for the Silver Ferns next week when their opposition begin arriving for the eight-day tournament starting at Auckland's Trusts Stadium on November 10.
Among the first to touch down are South Africa who arrive on Thursday,
Singapore who arrive a week today and England on Sunday week. Australia, Wales and Barbados are scheduled to arrive on November 5.
Scotland are also expected to land next week but will prepare outside Auckland, playing regional sides in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
The Silver Ferns - who arrive home today after a five-day camp in Melbourne which included matches against the Victorian men's side and the Melbourne Central women's team - get together a week today with additional squad members Anna Scarlett, Temepara George, Jade Topia, Debbie White, Daneka Wipiiti and Liana Barrett-Chase for one last hit out before their opening match against Malawi on November 10.
Before that match Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken will have to make a decision on the fitness of midcourter Laura Langman, who has a stress fracture in her left foot. It is understood that Langman's injury is progressing well, and if that continues there will not be any changes to the 12 players named in July.
The Silver Ferns had hoped to play Trinidad and Tobago and England in warm-up matches however Trinidad and Tobago are not arriving until November 6 and England turned them down.
England coach Marg Caldow confirmed New Zealand had asked to play her side.
"We didn't feel it was necessary to have a warm-up match against the Silver Ferns," Caldow said. "I was quite happy to have one against Samoa who are not in our part of the draw and just play a different style to get us prepared."
The Australian team will play South Africa and Malawi in the lead-up, and Trinidad and Tobago who are stopping over in Melbourne on the way to New Zealand.
Australia's build-up to the World Champs has included a beach boot camp with former special operations group police officers, and matches against the Victorian men's team.
Australian coach Norma Plummer, who was this week reappointed until December 2009, said she was feeling quite relaxed.
"I am looking forward to it. It is getting quite exciting now. I think it will be a great spectacle for fans and for the teams themselves."
In her online diary, Australian shooter Catherine Cox, competing in her second world championship, said it was probably the best team she had ever been part of.
"Heading into this World Championship, I honestly couldn't think of 11 players I'd rather do it with and, if all goes to plan, 11 players I'd rather celebrate with."
