Pulse turn to men for netball buildup

The Pulse are calling in the men to give them a hard hitout ahead of their ANZ Championship season opener against the Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch on Monday night.

The Pulse will play a Wellington men's selection at Te Rauparaha Arena tomorrow night, four days out from travelling south. Tonight, a women's selection will make up numbers for a game.

New Pulse captain Jane Altschwager said the players' heart-rates were escalating with the first round approaching, and a tough game against the men was required to settle the side.

"We're both excited and nervous," the Aussie shooter said.

"Hopefully [by Monday] we can turn those nerves into positive energy and make sure we're doing everything we possibly can out there to win."

While injuries have featured prominently in the pre-season, Altschwager said those concerns had eased.

"Everyone is good, I was back to full training this week," she said. "We're all fit and ready to go for our match. We've monitored my training to make sure that I don't blow out before the Monday game, but it's not an injury that takes me off the court.

"Fingers crossed everything will go well."

Altschwager's foot tendon problem sidelined her from the Queenstown tournament and she was unable to play a full game in Sydney. England defender and fellow import Ama Agbeze's knee injury reduced her involvement in Queenstown also, but Altschwager said both players had recovered in the nick of time.

"We had more running testing this morning and Agbeze was one of the last to drop out. She's looking very fit."

Results for the team in its two pre-season tournaments were mixed. The Pulse won three of their matches in Queenstown against the Tactix, Mystics and Australian Institute of Sport, but slumped to six straight losses at the SOPA Cup in Sydney.

Altschwager said the string of losses to the powerhouse Australian teams left her dissatisfied.

"The Pulse of old would have been happy to get close, but the Pulse of new want the win. That's what we're installing into the Pulse this year," she said.

"We were actually up in quite a few of those games in Sydney and we do have the ability to run on and win those games, so we just need to believe in our ability to win and learn how to do that as well."

Defender Bessie Manu has been one of the movers, according to the captain.

"I'd be looking out for Bessie Manu. I think she's had a fantastic pre-season and has come along so well. She is looking very, very fit."

- © Fairfax NZ News