Netball: Silver Ferns given individual targets for Malawi

Ferns Goal shooter Catherine Latu. Photo / Getty Images

Individual performances will be just as important as achieving team goals for the Silver Ferns in next week's series against Malawi.

After a poor series against Australia, in which the Silver Ferns recorded four straight losses to the Diamonds, there is a long list of work-ons to be ticked off against Malawi. Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu has given all her players individual targets to be met, as well as team goals to work towards as they close in on Commonwealth Games year.

The African nation will kick off their inaugural tour of New Zealand on Thursday in Wellington, with Napier to host the second test and Hamilton the finale.

While Malawi, ranked No5 in the world, are unlikely to challenge New Zealand on the scoreboard, the series is an important one in the Ferns build-up to next year's pinnacle event.

Some of the Ferns' seasoned performers, including star shooter Irene van Dyk, had a quiet series against Australia and will be looking to regain confidence and shore up their links against Malawi.

As well as individual form there are other key areas of concern including their centre-pass to score rate, through-court defensive intensity, and ability to adjust to the umpiring.

Taumaunu said there was no need for any major changes to their gameplan or widespread personnel changes.

Taumaunu will test new players in the midcourt in the upcoming series, with newcomer Katarina Cooper set to become the third player to debut for the Ferns this year behind Courtney Tairi and Shannon Francois.

Francois emerged as a genuine contender after being called into the line-up for the Australian leg of the series. By the end of the series the youngster was the Ferns' first-choice wing attack.

Cooper will be looking to make a similar impact next week.

If she produces the same sort of confident and composed performances as she did in Silver Ferns trials earlier this year, which led to her shock selection, she will be in with a good shot of getting a call-up for the tour to the United Kingdom early next year.

Taumaunu is planning on taking an extended squad on the January tour, which may include Harrison, who gave birth to her first child last month, as well as a couple of players returning from injury.

The tour will likely play a big role in the selectors' decision-making in terms of who will make the cut for the Commonwealth Games team.