Silver Fern Adine Wilson explains moves at a training session yesterday. Picture / Paul Estcourt
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken says changes are on the cards during Saturday's one-off test against Australia as her side look to next year's Commonwealth Games.
The Silver Ferns had a training session in Auckland yesterday morning and then a hit out against the Auckland men's team last night. Aitken
said she had not settled on a starting seven but indicated she was keen to alternate players.
"It is interesting how the game is being approached being the last time the sides meet before the Commonwealth Games," Aitken said.
"How do you balance what you need to find out with ensuring that the performance is still up there. We want to make sure that we know as much as possible going into the Commonwealth Games so that means putting players out there."
The return of veterans Anna Rowberry, Belinda Colling and Sheryl Scanlan gives Aitken experienced options in all three areas of the court. But she will also be keen to see the players that dealt Australia a 50-43 defeat in the one off test in June, continue their development.
That lineup went: Irene van Dyk, Jodi Te Huna, Temepara George, Adine Wilson, Laura Langman, Joline Henry, Vilimaina Davu.
Australia arrived yesterday with a squad of 15, which will be trimmed to 12 the day before the test.
After their loss to New Zealand in June, coach Norma Plummer added 1.89m tall defender Bianca Chatfield to the side whom Aitken expects to see play alongside captain Liz Ellis to shut down van Dyk.
The Australians have brought six midcourters to Auckland which Atiken said made them a "little bit unknown" while influential goal attack Sharelle McMahon appears to have recovered fully from a lingering ankle injury.
New Zealand's pressure on the Australian shooters contributed to their win in June, and many are touting a McMahon and Eloise Southby-Halbish combination to take the court.
"I am sure that they will look at that combination," Aitken said.
"I think they will see how it responds to our defensive pressure so I wouldn't be surprised if there was a change in their shooters during the game."
