Silver Ferns in countdown to the World Cup

Dame Noeline Taurua likely has half of her Silver Ferns squad pencilled in for the Netball World Cup.

The Ferns delivered a mixed bag at this week’s Quad Series in Cape Town, their last international hit-out before the July-August global tournament.

With Jane Watson, who became a new mother last year, and Karin Burger (foot fracture) both returning after long absences from the side, New Zealand finished second, losing Thursday’s final 56-50 to Australia.

They will return to the same court at the International Convention Centre in six months’ time looking to become the first Silver Ferns team to win back-to-back titles at the World Cup.

Netball New Zealand confirmed this week World Cup squads will again feature traditional 12-player squads after some whispers it might be increased to 14.

The toughest selection dilemma for Taurua and fellow selectors Adrianne Hayes, Leigh Gibbs and Gail Parata will be in the midcourt – the most fiercely contested area of the court.

Having multiple options at wing attack, centre and wing defence will factor heavily into their thinking with Burger the wing defence-goal defence slide.

With eight games in 10 days they will need to be mindful of balancing players’ workloads in the early stages, where the Ferns should breeze through Pool D against Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, and Singapore. The top three teams from both Pool D and Pool C will form Pool G in preliminary stage two before the semifinals.

From the Quad Series squad, first-choice goal shoot Grace Nweke, captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio, incumbent wing attack Gina Crampton, midcourter Kate Heffernan and defenders Burger and Watson loom as automatic selections.

‘‘I’d say we’ve got a solid six who I feel are quite strong and are consistently able to perform from day in and day out,’’ Taurua said when asked how many World Cup spots were realistically available.

‘‘It’s all open really. Everybody has got an opportunity here [at Quad

Series] and they’ll go away knowing clearly what their plan is and now they’ll have to go into ANZ [Premiership] and really win their position.’’

Four shooters are almost certain to be selected in case of injury at the World Cup and to manage workloads. Maia Wilson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit are next in line after Nweke and Ekenasio.

In the defensive end, Burger, Watson, Phoenix Karaka and Kelly Jury look to be the four leading options.

Sulu Fitzpatrick, who will retire after the 2023 season, could find herself on the outer with Burger and Watson returning.

Fitzpatrick is still in the World Cup picture, but will need a standout final season for the Mystics to usurp Jury or Karaka, or the Ferns to take an extra defender.

Midcourt remained the most competitive area of the court and some talented players would miss the World Cup squad.

Heffernan thrived at centre during the Quad Series, earning midcourter of the tournament honours, and appears to have overtaken Whitney Souness as the Ferns’ top option in the middle.

Souness’ ability to switch between wing attack and centre will boost her Cup chances, but her place in the squad isn’t certain.

Wing attack Peta Toeava, who was so impressive in the first two Constellation Cup tests last October, could pay the price for only playing one position. It seems unlikely the Ferns would take Toeava alongside Crampton with only 12 spots.

Maddy Gordon, who was unwanted for the Quad Series, could come back into the World Cup mix with her versatility in the midcourt. Gordon, who has played six tests, can play all three midcourt roles and is known for her strong conditioning. She could be a handy midcourt option for a tournament like the World Cup.

Veteran midcourter Shannon Saunders, who is due to give birth to her first child soon, is an outside option but would be in a race against time for the Cup.

Experienced wing defence-centre Sam Winders, who joins the Southern Steel from the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, will be a name to watch in the premiership. Winders excelled at the Ferns’ December training camp but suffered a minor calf injury. Had she remained healthy, she may have been on the plane to South Africa for the Quad Series.

Taurua reiterated performances in the ANZ Premiership, which begins on March 4, would be crucial and World Cup hopefuls needed to shine and show they deserved to be selected.

‘‘The door is never closed and history speaks for itself where we’ve always had people who have presented themselves or put their hand up, whether in trials or ANZ and have been bolters.

‘‘It’s really important over the next four-five months they build on the areas they need to improve and usually what I find is the cream rises to the top anyway.’’