Netball: Silver Ferns gaps at both ends of court

Kayla Cullen brings stunning athleticism and an x-factor but she is fighting her way back from a knee injury. Photo / Getty Images

Absence of Tutaia and Harrison offers chance for team to bring in new blood

While most of the focus in the lead-up to today's Silver Ferns team announcement has centred around shooting selections, an interesting battle has been playing out for the vacant spot in the defensive end.

The shooting circle was highlighted as the area of key concern for the Ferns following the team's 18-goal capitulation to Australia in the Commonwealth Games final. Those concerns have deepened following confirmation Maria Tutaia will miss the rest of the international season with a foot injury.

In all the discussion over who will take Tutaia's place, the other big vacancy in the test line-up has been overlooked.

The New Zealand side has fielded the same defensive line-up - Casey Kopua, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant and Anna Harrison - for the past three pinnacle events, but Harrison's withdrawal from the squad as she is expecting her second child opens up a rare opportunity for a young player to establish her place in the team ahead of next year's World Cup.

The main contenders for the position are Temalisi Fakahokotau - the Mystics' break-out star last season - and Kayla Cullen, who is fighting her way back from a knee injury, but Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu said she has also been impressed with the form of the Steel's Phoenix Karaka and Magic youngster Jamie-Lee Price this week.

"That [defensive spot] is actually going to be quite a tough call, there is a lot of competition in there," said Taumaunu.

Cullen lined up at this week's trials with only two weeks of court work following several major setbacks in her rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction last year.

When at her best, Cullen brings stunning athleticism and an x-factor to the team. But the Constellation Cup, which starts in Invercargill in two weeks' time, will likely be too early for Cullen, with the two tests against England late next month a more realistic proposition.

"I'm still not that confident doing certain things on court but I guess the more I play the more confident I will become. It is really hard coming back from an injury like that and going straight back into playing at this level," the 22-year-old said.

"I think the challenge for me is mostly a mental one."

Team management have decided the best way for the youngster to get over that mental hurdle is to throw her straight into the deep end this week. "I'm not wrapping her in cotton wool - we need to see what she can do," said Taumaunu.