Netball: Silver Ferns to go into lockdown mode

Bailey Mes contests for the ball during the Silver Ferns win over Malawi. Photo / Getty

The Silver Ferns will go into lockdown mode following tonight's final round qualification match against Uganda as the Netball World Cup moves into the final weekend.

The team had their last official engagement last night, mixing and mingling with hundreds of fans at a function at Sydney's Darling Harbour. Following tonight's match against Uganda - a surprise qualifier for the top eight - the Ferns will seal themselves off from friends and family and focus on the final few days.

If today's final round results go the way the rankings suggests it should, New Zealand are expected to meet England in tomorrow's semifinal, while Australia look set to take on Jamaica in the other final.

Coach Waimarama Taumaunu said the team decided collectively they would prefer to insulate themselves from outside distractions as best they could ahead of the finals.

"We'll close down after [tonight's] game so the end of pool play is the team decision as to when we're going to close down," said Taumaunu.

"Our senior leadership group has been through this a number of times so that message has been pretty clearly communicated. The players have been great and there's a real sense of focus about them."

Taumaunu said the intensity in the New Zealand camp has been lifting as they approach what for many of them will be the biggest games of their careers.

The Ferns have had a much more physical lead-in to the finals than the likes of England and Australia on the other side of the draw, battling through a couple of torrid tests against Jamaica and Malawi. They expect another tough outing against Uganda tonight, with the African side expected to come out with plenty of aggression.

"The idea of a top eight has meant the pool games and [the second round] have been pretty difficult, more from a physical perspective. We've got one more of those tomorrow and then we'll look to the semis and the finals. I'm really well aware and so are the team that we're not really there on Sunday until we get through tomorrow and Saturday," said Taumaunu.

There will be some pause for reflection tonight with Maria Tutaia set to rack up her 100th test appearance if she takes the court against Uganda. The star shooter, who made her debut back in Jamaica in 2005, will become just the fourth Silver Fern to achieve the milestone, behind Lesley Rumball (2003), Irene van Dyk (2009) and Laura Langman (2014).