It's crunch time for the country's eight franchises, who have until midday on Monday to submit a team of up to 12 players to Netball New Zealand.
The National Bank Cup franchises submitted squads of up to 18 players in November, and those lists now have to be reduced to
12 players or fewer. Most franchises will have settled on 12 players, but they have until February 14 to name their final teams. This gives them the option of naming say 10 players now and then picking up a further two from the pool of players who miss out.
While there has been plenty of chopping and changing among the teams, the franchises who look set to field markedly different teams from last year are the Auckland Waitakere Diamonds, the Canterbury Flames and to a slightly lesser extent the Capital Shakers of Wellington.
After failing to cement a top-four spot for the fifth consecutive time last year, the Diamonds were in need of a shake-up.
Enter a new coach, former Australian international Sue Hawkins. Add Silver Fern Jodi Te Huna, former Fern Carron Jerram and experienced players Stephanie Bond and Jo Steed, not to mention Silver Ferns Anna Rowberry and Victoria Edward, and Australian import Kathryn Harby-Williams, and the Diamonds have plenty to choose from.
The Flames are feeling the pinch following the loss of Te Huna, Belinda Colling, Julie Seymour and Belinda Charteris.
Their hopes will lie with Silver Ferns defender Vilimaina Davu and New Zealand under-21 players Anna Thompson, Elizabeth Manu and former Diamond Shelly Norris.
The Shakers are also reeling from the loss of key players Katie Ritchie and Megan Hutton, who returned to their original franchises, the Otago Rebels and the Southern Sting respectively.
But the Shakers do have a core group of players who have been with the team for some time.
The National Bank Cup starts on April 8.
