Netball: Search on for spot in Silver Ferns

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken says she doesn't enjoy not having a team to call her own.

For the next two weeks that is the situation she will be in.

Then, at the conclusion of the national provincial championships, she will have the Silver Ferns side to prepare for next month's series against Australia and her newly named New Zealand squad.

Aitken, her assistant Leigh Gibbs and selectors (New Zealand A coach Te Aroha Keenan, New Zealand under-21 coach Yvette McCausland Durie, Adrianne Hayes and Annette Heffernan) will name a squad of up to 18 players on the final day of the NPC in Auckland on September 30.

The squad will meet for summer camps and then trials in early February and the Silver Ferns world championship team of 12 will be named around February 20.

A New Zealand A squad and New Zealand under-21 squad will also be named after the NPC.

New Zealand A will host Australia and a team from the Australian Institute next month.

Getting into the New Zealand squad, which will consist of up to 18 players, will be tricky.

Taking into account the 12 current Silver Ferns, add midcourter Liana Barrett-Chase and shooter Tanya Lund (who travelled with the Ferns to Australia as training partners), then Jodi Te Huna (who will be added once she passes a fitness test), 15 of the 18 places are spoken for and, believe it or not, there is an even split of five shooters, five middies and five defenders.

So theoretically, although there is no hard and fast rule that an even split is necessary, there is room for another shooter, midcourter and defender.

Some of the contenders are Tania Dalton, Jessica Tuki, Jade Topia, Jamilah Gupwell, Paula Griffin, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Anna Thompson, Rawinia Everitt, Julie Seymour, Stephanie Bond and Katrina Grant.

"We just have to make sure we have the backup in line," Aitken said.

"That midcourt, in the attacking midcourt, and the shooting has probably been light but we are all very aware how quickly things can change.

"There is always that toss up in the midcourt where you have three specialist positions and how you are going to end up with the extra one ... whether the goal defence/wing defence slide will work or the goal attack/wing attack slide. Those decisions have still to be made.

"We don't think we have closed the door on defenders either."

Aitken said if they do not feel anyone is ready for the NZ squad they will name fewer than 18 players.

"The New Zealand squad is a real elite squad.

"We don't give it out lightly and if players aren't where we think they need to be we will lead them into the New Zealand A and give them clear guidelines of what they need to do," Aitken said.

"Anyone that isn't quite there yet has the opportunity over the next few months to get where they need to be."

She said 18 is the number they have set aside for the trials but it is not set in concrete.

"We are trying to make sure we don't shut the door completely on anyone that does the work.

"When the January camps come around for each of the squads we'll be able to really assess what players have done over the summer and look to invite any others into the February trials that we need to."

Next year's National Bank Cup will play no role in the selection of the world championship team except for ensuring the players selected continue to perform.

Aitken said by then they believe they will have provided enough opportunities for players to have pushed their cases and by naming the team before the competition starts will prevent disruption.

It will also allow the New Zealand coaches to spend more time with their players.

It has worked in New Zealand's best interest in the past to name their sides early as proven in this year's Commonwealth Games and the last world championships where the team was named well in advance.

Aside from another wing attack and shooter Aitken said she will be looking to see how players back up their performances in the NPC especially in the week long tournament, which is a similar format to the world championships

"I think for any players wanting to be Silver Ferns it is really showing some leadership and that mental toughness that they can keep on keeping on even though it is very physically demanding."

Aitken stays independent of the teams but does have the odd discussion with coaches about what she would like to see.

"We have pretty good communication, if it can be worked in with their team then the coaches are fairly good."

While she enjoys the selection process despite the many headaches it provides, Aitken said she would much rather be coaching.

"I don't enjoy not having a team that I can call my own. I enjoy having the other selectors there and the discussions and the debate we have after each days games.

"But it is certainly much nicer being a coach."