Surprises unlikely in Silver Ferns squad

MAARTEN HOLL/The Dominion Post

SHOOTER: Maria Tutaia in action.

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National netball coach Ruth Aitken and her assistants will tell you that the decision to cut the Silver Ferns squad from 17 to the 12 to compete at the Commonwealth Games is difficult.

"One of the most difficult in our tenure," they'll probably say, followed by sugary lines about the talent of those unfortunate to miss out on a passage to India and how they will "most certainly play a part in our future".

But the truth is that the team, to be named named this morning, virtually picks itself.

Captain Casey Williams, shooter Irene van Dyk and Laura Langman should waltz in on class, and former captain Temepara George is also a shoo-in, as are Southern Steel duo Leana de Bruin and ANZ Championship player-of-the-tournament Liana Barrett-Chase.

Former Magic player Maria Tutaia has not been as impressive since moving to the Mystics, but any doubt over her selection was gone when both Jodi Brown and Paula Griffin made themselves unavailable.

Aitken has, in the past, given herself the luxury of picking four shooters and is likely to do the same today.

Van Dyk and Tutaia, a combination that worked so well for the Magic, will likely be her favoured duo, with Daneka Wipiiti getting the backup goal shoot role, though Tutaia could play there, if pressed.

The fourth shooting spot is really the only decision to make. It's the Tactix's Anna Thompson, with one international cap against the Mystics' Grace Rasmussen, who is yet to make her debut, but has impressed in the trials.

The fourth midcourter, along with the trio of vertically challenged Langman, Barrett-Chase and George, should be Hamilton-based Joline Henry.

Henry has bags of experience, steps up for big games and has that tenacious drive that the Australians don't always expect from the Silver Ferns.

She can also cover the defensive end.

On form, Williams and de Bruin are streets ahead of the other defenders, though returning beach volleyballer Anna Scarlett has impressed everyone with her form at the trials this week.

When in form, Scarlett was dynamic for the Ferns in the past and if she can reproduce that form in India, she could be the X-factor the national side needs.

Scarlett will go to India and the risk of taking someone who hasn't played netball for three years is lessened by having Henry in the squad.

That means Charlotte Kight (Tactix) and the Pulse's Katrina Grant will fight it out for the remaining spot.

Kight was one of the few shining lights in a largely woeful Canterbury Tactix side, but Grant is expected to get the nod today.

LIKELY LINEUP

Liana Barrett-Chase, Leana de Bruin, Temepara George, Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Grace Rasmussen, Anna Scarlett, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk, Casey Williams, Daneka Wipiiti

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