Cassidy likely to start for Western

ACTION AWAITS: Alanah Cassidy, left, in action during a game in New Plymouth.

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Netball

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Playing a full game tomorrow might feel like a foreign experience for Alanah Cassidy.

The Central Pulse, Feilding and Western wing attack has been scarcely used all year as she watched the ANZ Championship campaign from the bench for the Pulse.

Then because she couldn't train regularly with Feilding, as she studies in Wellington, she had to fit in when they had game time for her.

But the 21-year-old is likely to start for Western in their opening national championship division one match against Canterbury at Arena Manawatu.

"I'm looking forward to it, definitely," she said, and admitted she understood why she was left on the bench for the Pulse.

"It's probably more of a learning curve for me, soaking up what's out there."

Canterbury will bring a talented squad to Palmerston North with eight players from the ANZ Championship Canterbury Tactix side.

Granted they were the wooden-spooners in the trans-Tasman competition, but on paper it's a classy lineup, including former Silver Fern Maree Bowden and Dannevirke-born defender Charlotte Kight, who was also in the national squad last year.

Western aren't without their own sharp players. Their depth has been highlighted by the fact Tu Toa goal attack Renee Matoe hasn't even been included in the 12 for tomorrow's game.

Matoe was a standout in the recent Manawatu premier club final, but with Miriama Selby-Rickit, Jess Grinlinton, Chantelle Ngaia and Amber Bellringer in the shooting circle, there was no spot for her.

Cassidy, whose sister Whitney is in the squad for tomorrow, said a team effort would be required to knock over the South Islanders.

"We are still trying to gel in terms of combinations.

"For us we need to put all our strengths we have individually, together as a team."

Tomorrow could mark the first time the Cassidy sisters have played on the same team since 2007, when Alanah was in her last year at Tu Toa.

Taranaki's Lauren Burgess and Olympic-Red Sox mid-courter Kylee Webb will co-captain the side, coached by Annette Pearce.

HSOG-Rahui utility Katarina Cooper makes her return to representative netball after a two-year break. In other games, Wellington host Otago today and Auckland-Waitakere travel to Invercargill to play Southland tomorrow.

Western's game starts at noon at the B&M Centre.

Western: Jodi Beaumont (Manawatu), Amber Bellringer (Manawatu/Taranaki), Lauren Burgess (Taranaki), Sam Burkhart (Taranaki), Alanah Cassidy (Manawatu), Whitney Cassidy (Manawatu), Katarina Cooper (Manawatu), Jess Grinlinton (Manawatu), Chantelle Ngaia (Taranaki), Lana Phipps (Taranaki), Miriama Selby-Rickit (Manawatu), Kylee Webb (Manawatu)

Canterbury: Maree Bowden, Hayley Crofts, Sophia Fenwick, Philippa Finch, Anna Galvan, Ellen Halpenny, Kylie Hikawai, Charlotte Kight, Joanna McCaw, Victoria Smith, Anna Thompson, Jo Trip.

- © Fairfax NZ News