Waikato/BOP Magic set to mix it with the men

The Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic's netball pre-season kicks off with a battle of the sexes and an international in Te Awamutu tomorrow night.

The Magic's first game of the season is against a Waikato men's selection quickly followed by a match against the touring Samoan side. The side chose to bypass the Southern Steel's pre-season tournament in Queenstown

Magic assistant coach Hikitia Gallagher said the games were going to be a big test because of the differing styles and 15-minute turnaround, but Magic had to make the most of them because they had opted for a truncated build-up to the ANZ Championship.

The Magic's season proper starts on March 22 in Melbourne against defending champions Vixens.

Gallagher expected the men's side to play with a hybrid style tomorrow. They would be strong and fast like an Australian team, but use a more aerial approach rather than a lateral one – much like a New Zealand side.

"It's good for us because it means the girls will have to find different way of doing things. The guys have a longer arm-span. It makes [the Magic players] think about other options. They have to use a few more skills."

The Samoans are likely to pose a different challenge altogether, but shouldn't push the Magic on the scoreboard.

"They're quite a young side, I understand, but they'll play quite a free flowing game I imagine," Gallagher said. "It'll be good because it also gives us an indication of where we're at too."

Gallagher said another major plus for the games would be how quickly the players had to adapt to the different styles between the men and the Samoan side.

"It'll be good," she said.

"The players will have to adjust to a different style quickly and the way teams in the ANZ Championship can change their style of play, our girls need to be able to adjust and adapt."

Playing against men isn't new in New Zealand netball and is something the Silver Ferns have done semi-regularly. The Magic have also used male netballers to help them train in the past.

The Magic play the Waikato men's side at 6pm and play Samoa at 7.30pm. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children.

- © Fairfax NZ News