Netball: Torrid defence key to rattle Aussies

Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken will be after more of the same from her defence tonight, meaning the Australian attack are in for 60 minutes of torture in Waitakere City.

The Australian shooters struggled with New Zealand's defence of the shot in the last test in June and they crumbled to an uncharacteristic 67 per cent shooting record.

New Zealand have altered their defensive lineup slightly with the inclusion of Leana de Bruin but all indications are that Aitken is keen to keep developing the tactic.

Australia will have five shooters at the Trusts Stadium in their squad of 15. Of those, only goal attack Sharelle McMahon has proved capable in pressure situations.

In recent tests Megan Anderson and Catherine Cox have been used in shooting roles. Cox, although brilliantly accurate in patches, has proved she is not a 60-minute performer, and Anderson also struggles with accuracy.

Eloise Southby-Halbish has been recalled following a run of injuries and may just sneak into the starting seven alongside her Melbourne Phoenix team-mate McMahon.

How the athletic McMahon performs will be of interest. The 28 year-old has been plagued with ankle problems for the better part of two years although she appears to be on the way back to her best after reconstructive surgery.

In the midcourt, New Zealand should run rings around their opponents.

The Australians had no answer for the speed, skill and dynamism of Temepara George, Adine Wilson and Laura Langman in the last test.

With Australia's gritty wing defence Peta Scholz still absent following the birth of her first child, there is nothing to suggest it will be any different this time around.

After the last test Australian coach Norma Plummer said her side needed more height in the circle to stem the high balls into Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk.

While 1.88m Demelza Fellowes is an option, she didn't set the world on fire when she lined up against the Silver Ferns last year.

It is more likely that the Australians will take to the court with captain Liz Ellis back on van Dyk, with either Alison Broadbent or Bianca Chatfield at goal defence.

"Liz has done the job, she has played on Irene plenty of times and Australia have won with Liz in that position, so I wouldn't be underestimating that," Plummer said.

For the Silver Ferns it will be essential they adjust to Australia's one-on-one defence early. They achieved that in the last test with their measured passing game, varying the speed of the release and making ball retention a priority.

Van Dyk will clearly become a target so once again it will be important the goal attack, whether it be Jodi Te Huna or Belinda Colling, step up and help take the workload off her.

With the Commonwealth Games just five months away both Plummer and Aitken have indicated they are keen to make changes during the match.

The match starts at 7.15 on TV ONE tonight.

The teams

New Zealand: Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Belinda Colling, Jodi Te Huna, Adine Wilson, Temepara George, Anna Rowberry, Laura Langman, Sheryl Scanlan, Anna Scarlett, Vilimaina Davu, Leana de Bruin.

Australia: Eloise Southby-Halbish, Sharelle McMahon, Catherine Cox, Megan Anderson, Kristen Heinrich, Jessica Shynn, Natasha Chokljat, Natalie Avellino, Natalie von Bertouch, Selina Gilsenan, Sarah Barrett, Liz Ellis, Alison Broadbent, Bianca Chatfield, Demelza Fellowes.