KEY POINTS:
Having not seen Anna Scarlett for some time, you forget just how tall and lean the 24-year-old is.
Gearing up for a training session in the Arctic-like conditions in the Diocesan School gym, Scarlett's long lean legs and dangly arms are the first things that strike you.
Limbs
which cause her opponents all sorts of trouble, but will have to be content with taking on the country's best rather than the world's best.
Scarlett was dropped from the New Zealand side for the international series against Jamaica and Australia in July and then received a double blow that month when she was unwanted for the world championship side, a side she had her heart set on for the last four years.
While many wondered what would become of the bright and breezy defender, she is fine.
She will captain Auckland-Waitakere in the national regional championships, her first step in trying to win back her Silver Fern spot.
"I feel positive that I have more to offer," Scarlett says.
"But it has been really disappointing. These worlds were really a huge goal for me. It has been a big hill to climb in the last month or so.
"The motivation is still there. I am still training as though I am going to play in the worlds. I am there if they need me."
The New Zealand selectors told Scarlett some things in her game needed fine tuning, in particular her consistency.
"It is always hard hearing the things they think are wrong with you. But you have to take it on board and fix it.
"There wasn't much of an opportunity to show that I had fixed it in that time frame but the NPC is my chance to go out there and play netball how I know I can."
It is a chance to go out and prove a point.
"Any athlete would be feeling that. Sometimes I think I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. If I perform well at NPC then that is for my own benefit really, as it is not going to change anything in terms of getting into the world cup team."
Scarlett is one of the senior players in the Auckland-Waitakere side, which finished second to Waikato last year, but are expected to feel the pinch without shooters Maria Tutaia and Paula Griffin, who will sit out the tournament with the rest of the Silver Ferns.
In the shooting circle this year are Susan Tagicakibau, who performed well for the side last year, and schoolgirls Lavinia Vaitohi and Amy Latu, sister of North's Catherine Latu.
"I have a lot of faith in the shooting area," Scarlett says.
"There are a couple of strong shooters who haven't had a chance to show their stuff yet. Susan is definitely one to keep an eye on. She is very strong in the air and has a great shot.
"Hopefully they'll step up and show people they are more than what they have been [as bench players].
The side is missing Jenny-May Coffin, who is assistant coach, but they have a solid midcourt with Rawinia Everitt, Grace Rasmussen, Kiri Wills and Amenda Payne.
Scarlett heads the defence but is likely to be without her long-time partner Stephanie Bond, who is struggling with a calf injury.
Rachel Rasmussen is likely to fill that void.
As for who she expects her team's toughest rivals to be, Scarlett is not entirely sure.
Without the Silver Ferns and with all the teams having short buildups, it is anyone's guess who will emerge from the tournament victorious.
"Everyone feels like they have got a chance."
