KEY POINTS:
It was a telling sight - Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson after yesterday's national trial wearing a huge sling and nursing an icepack on her shoulder.
Wilson's shoulder niggle is an old lingering one, and won't keep her out of the Silver Ferns 12 named today to play
Jamaica and Australia.
But it reminded the New Zealand selectors that Wilson, the team's sole wing attack, is not indestructible, and it is essential that she have a backup for the world championships in November.
It was perhaps the biggest question posed by the three-day trials in Auckland, and will have Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken and her band almost certainly reaching outside the current team for a new midcourter.
The withdrawal of 59-test veteran centre Temepara George on Saturday morning from the trials and this month's five tests made the midcourt puzzle more tricky.
The selectors, including Aitken, admitted after yesterday's public game that this was the toughest selection they had ever had to make.
"We have challenges all through the court, and I'm going to break the hearts of some wonderful people," Aitken said.
Laura Langman stepped up yesterday and proved a more than capable replacement at centre. George's absence could also be filled by former Fern captain Julie Seymour, a centre/wing defence who exudes experience and leadership.
But neither solves the wing attack dilemma, so Aitken may opt for a less-experienced feeder to back up Wilson.
The obvious choice after the trials was Seymour's 28-year-old Flames teammate Maree Bowden, a primary teacher who has taken the year off to concentrate on netball.
Bowden, a national squad member who has yet to be capped, trains most days with Seymour and yesterday found herself up against her friend and mentor.
"We are good buddies, but there's competition between us too," said 37-year-old Seymour, who knew her place in the side was in no way sealed.
"I can't wait till the team is named and I find out one way or another."
Aitken acknowledged that George, taking a break to consider her future, could get back into the side for the world championships, but there's no guarantee. There won't be another trial.
"I think it's a great opportunity to look at some other combinations in the midcourt," Aitken said.
She was considering two options at the defence end - cutting the five able defenders in the squad to four; or taking all five and having only three specialist midcourters.
Sheryl Scanlan and Joline Henry, generally goal defences, had strong spells at wing defence yesterday.
If it comes down to four defenders, Scanlan could well get the nod ahead of Henry, to resume her test netball career after almost two years.
"I've worked hard but I've still got more to do physically and in my court play," Scanlan, with 42 test caps, said. "It's very important for me to be named in this 12. It puts you in good stead for the world championships.
"I've worked at being versatile - you have to be nowadays. The more I get to play at wing defence, the better."
The unpredictable Anna Scarlett met the challenge at goal keep yesterday, as the selectors try to plug the hole left by Vilimaina Davu.
At the shooting end, teenager Paula Griffin looked to have done enough over the weekend to keep her place in the team, despite a lack of court-time in the National Bank Cup.
One of the players contesting her place, fast-rising Flames shooter Jade Topia, had to pull out of the trial on Friday because of a virus.
Topia sat frustrated in the stands yesterday, but the selectors reassured her she would still be considered, based on her stunning NBC season.
Daneka Wipiiti's bid to break back into the side was at times let down by accuracy problems under the post.
POSSIBLE SILVERFERNS TEAM
Shooters: Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia, Jodi Te Huna, Paula Griffin
Midcourt: Adine Wilson, Maree Bowden, Julie Seymour, Laura Langman
Defence: Casey Williams, Leana de Bruin, Anna Scarlett, Sheryl Scanlan
