Pulse ready to rock, or more of the same?

A fortunate first-round clash for the Central Pulse in their ANZ Championship season opener tonight should provide a fair assessment of how much improvement can be expected from the former league strugglers this year.

Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie has high hopes for a win against the remodelled Canterbury Tactix in Christchurch, and is eager to get her side's season off to a flying start.

"We've got to win our first game, and after that we've got to make sure that we're winning our home games," McCausland-Durie said.

Far tougher clashes will follow in subsequent rounds and if the Pulse fail to beat the weakened Tactix, then predictions of major improvements this year may have to be promptly reassessed.

McCausland-Durie is still ruing three occasions last year when the Pulse were in the driving seat but did not convert the close scorelines. This year she believes she has the players to hold on in tight situations. "Experience and depth is our key this year and our improved fitness. We've pushed the players really hard in training. I feel very confident we can survive at this level."

A good chunk of the Pulse starting line has returned, including last year's outstanding rookies Paula Griffin, Te Amo Amaru-Tibble and centre Camilla Lees.

Experience has been added with 39-test capped England defender Ama Agbeze, and former Australian shooter Jane Altschwager.

Silver Ferns defender Katrina Grant will combine with Agbeze in defence tonight in her first trans-Tasman championship match since switching from the Southern Steel.

Pulse newcomer Agbeze, who played in their 10-goal pre-season win over the Tactix in Queenstown last month, said containing Tactix goal attack Anna Thompson would be crucial.

"She's their key playmaker and if we can shut her out we should be able to restrict them," Agbeze said. "When we played in the preseason we managed to pull ourselves together better than them. Hopefully we'll take it to them and win."

Agbeze, 27, has been struggling with a knee and back injury since her arrival in Wellington but said those concerns had eased.

The Tactix are without last year's frontline stars and have failed to fill the shoes of captain Julie Seymour, shooter Jodi Brown and defenders Sonia Mkoloma and Larissa Willcox.

In a stroke of bad luck, their only import, former Queensland Firebirds' captain Peta Stephens, returned home last week after succumbing to a shoulder injury.

Tactix coach Helen Mahon-Stroud said despite the raft of changes her side was looking good.

"We always have fantastic home support, and the girls have all been working really hard."

She has confidence in her shooting line of Thompson, Southland teenager Ashleigh Smith and under-21 rep Ellen Halpenny. "They're all working really well together. We have emerging talent which is unknown to the competition."

In defence, Mahon-Stroud has talent and experience in Charlotte Kight, former Southern Sting defender Anna Galvan and Victoria Smith. Maree Bowden will play her first game as Tactix captain.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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