Netball: Mid-court key to Ferns squad

Waikato's Anna Senio maintains possession during the Silver Ferns trials at the ASB Stadium yesterday. Picture/ Greg Bowker

Defensive flexibility is shaping up as a solution for Ruth Aitken's on-going selection headaches.

The Silver Ferns boss will tomorrow name her 12-strong squad for the one-off test against Australia, having agonised for months over the waning credentials of some of her more established players.

While nothing much was given away during yesterday's trial at the ASB Centre, the latest theory involves Aitken including either Joeline Henry or Sheryl Scanlan as a goal-defence/wing-defence utility to bolster the attacking element of her mid-court.

The move would almost certainly spell the end of Lesley Rumball's international career, not to mention Victoria Edward's as well, while signalling a return to the fold for former captain Anna Rowberry.

It would also make sense; Rowberry adds crucial height in the attacking third, and the wing-defence responsibilities would still be adequately filled by either Laura Langman, Henry or Scanlan.

Aitken said after yesterday's trial that the prospect of Scanlan pressing for a recall was a realistic one, given the present selection complications.

"Sheryl has played both wing-defence and goal-defence over the past couple of years and has a range of skills that could be very beneficial," she said.

"Her driving through the court is just outstanding, and it's certainly something that we're considering."

The other talking point during yesterday's trial was the performance of another former captain, Belinda Colling, who is pushing for a recall after taking a year off for childbirth and living in Scotland.

Colling might only be useful as a goal-attack in the present New Zealand set-up, but she again showed what a valuable foil she could be for Irene van Dyk, and also played a part in an impressive performance from 17-year-old shoot Jessica Tuki.

Assuming van Dyk, Colling and Jodi Te Huna make the cut tomorrow, it would be no surprise to see the selectors opting to add the youth of either Tuki or Auckland-Waitakere shooter Maria Tutaia to the mix.

Aitken said there was no longer the same concern about how the team would fare if robbed of the services of van Dyk.

"I think we're in a much healthier position now than we were," she said. "The likes of Maria Tutaia and Jessica Tuki are making their presence felt from under-21 level and Jodi Te Huna has shown up against Australia as a goal-attack. I'm sure she could make the switch to goal-shoot if she had to."

In terms of the defence end, Aitken doesn't seem to be faced with too many problems and is expected to continue with the impressive Vilimaina Davu, Anna Scarlett and - fitness permitting - Casey Williams.

If Williams is deemed fit and available the only other question involving the defence end is whether Aitken would prefer Henry or Scanlan, or goal-defence/goal-keep Leana De Bruin.

"Defensively, we were pleasantly surprised with what we got out of the trial," she said. "I felt the defensive pressure at both ends of the court was outstanding; they really put the acid on the shooting combinations and that was good, because I think all our shooters have to stand up a bit more in those tight situations."