Netball: Surfeit of talent in one area for Aitken

With an abundance of midcourt talent, Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken may be leaning towards a midcourt-heavy side for next month's home series against England.

The Silver Fern and the New Zealand A squads spent the weekend in camp in Auckland ahead of the announcement of the 12-strong team tomorrow.

Aitken opted for a mix of three shooters, five midcourters and four defensive players in last year's return series against Australia, a combination she may stick with for the England series.

With just three shooters left in the 16-strong Silver Fern squad following the withdrawal of Donna Loffhagen, those players - Irene van Dyk, Jodi Te Huna and Angela Mitchell - should all retain their places.

Aitken could pick up an additional shooter out of the New Zealand A squad, which would either be Katie Ritchie, Anna Senio or invited player Chantelle Ngaia.

However, with Joline Henry and Adine Wilson regarded as backup shooters, the New Zealanders would be safe going into a home series with just the three.

Defensively, Anna Scarlett, Vilimaina Davu, Sheryl Scanlan and Henry are unlikely to be bumped from the team.

But Aitken could increase the defence by selecting young Casey Williams or recalling former international Leana de Bruin.

However, it is the midcourt where the selection dilemmas lie. Seven of the 16 players in the New Zealand squad are middies and all pretty good ones at that.

Even the withdrawal of captain Anna Rowberry, who is still recovering from knee surgery, doesn't make Aitken's job much easier. Of the contenders, Lesley Rumball (nee Nicol), Temepara George (formerly Clark) and Adine Wilson should hold on to their positions and Aucklander Victoria Edward should also be pretty safe.

If Aitken does go with five middies, the question is whether she will stick with incumbent Amigene Metcalfe or take a gamble on 18-year-old Laura Langman, who was probably the player of the game in Saturday night's trial.

The wiry Langman is a little more versatile than Metcalfe in that she is extremely competent at all three midcourt positions whereas Metcalfe is more of a centre/wing-attack.

However, Langman does have a hectic few months ahead. She leaves tomorrow with the New Zealand under-21 side for a tour of Jamaica and the United States in preparation for the World Youth Cup in Miami in July.

England, who are ranked fourth in the world, will play Australia before arriving in New Zealand battle-hardened next month.

The Silver Ferns will regroup a week before the series, playing the New Zealand A team twice before the opening test on March 12.

The series is the Silver Ferns' first since their 2-1 series loss to Australia in November, and Aitken said the way forward often meant looking back.

"You want to make sure that your top options are getting better and you are still thinking of your players being out there against Australia.

"But this series against England is an opportunity to give court time for some other people as well."

Like Australia and England, the Silver Ferns are also building towards next year's Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

"Teams are always evolving and this one may not be the same one that competes in the Commonwealth Games," Aitken said.

"Obviously we'd like to see most of the players there but you always have to allow for people to have different accelerations, and certainly the New Zealand under-21 team at the World Youth Cup will be quite a telling time for some of those young ones."

Possible team

Irene van Dyk, Jodi Te Huna, Angela Mitchell, Temepara George, Adine Wilson, Lesley Rumball, Victoria Edward, Laura Langman, Vilimaina Davu, Anna Scarlett, Sheryl Scanlan, Joline Henry.