Silver Fern Grace Nweke gathers the ball under pressure from Courtney Bruce. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
The Silver Ferns' biggest series of the year starts on Friday night when they take on the world champion Australian Diamonds in Melbourne.
The Silver Ferns stunned the Diamonds 12 months ago by taking the series 3-1 to win the Constellation Cup for just the third time since its inception in 2010.
That series victory might prove to be Dame Noeline Taurua's final act as Silver Ferns coach with no signs that a deadlock between the popular figure and Netball New Zealand is about to end.
Coaching saga in a nutshell
Last month fans were rocked by the news that Netball New Zealand had stood Taurua down before the Taini Jamison series against South Africa.
Taurua and her coaching staff were stood down after a review flagged "significant issues" in the team environment, sparked by player complaints.
Several attempts at mediation failed to find a resolution and Yvette McCausland-Durie was brought in as interim coach.
The issues trace back to a training camp in January, after which two players approached the NZ Netball Players Association on behalf of a larger group of up to seven players, raising concerns about Taurua's leadership and communication style.
The players described a culture in which some felt fearful of raising issues directly with the head coach.
Despite another round of marathon sessions at the negotiating table, Netball NZ and Taurua did not reconcile their differences and the popular coach was then sidelined for the rest of the year.
Former captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio and Dame Noeline Taurua after winning the Constellation Cup in 2024. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Silver Ferns squad
The only change from the Taini Jamison series against South Africa is that Amelia Walmsley in for Filda Vui. Walmsley was unavailable for the last series because she was at the Netball Youth World Cup.
Shooters: Grace Nweke, Amelia Walmsley, Georgia Heffernan, Martina Salmon
Midcourters: Elisapeta Toeava, Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, Kimiora Poi, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan
Defenders: Kelly Jackson, Karin Burger, Parris Mason, Catherine Hall, Carys Stythe*
* Potential debutant
Diamonds squad
Australia has a relatively unchanged line up from the 2024 Constellation Cup squad. The notable additions are recent debutants Hannah Mundy and Ashleigh Ervin.
Midcourt veteran Paige Hadley recently announced she is expecting her first child, so is unavailable.
Shooters: Cara Koenen, Sophie Garbin, Kiera Austin, Sophie Dwyer, Georgie Horjus
Midcourt: Liz Watson, Hannah Mundy, Kate Moloney, Amy Parmenter, Jamie-Lee Price
Defence: Matilda Garrett, Sunday Aryang, Courtney Bruce, Ashleigh Ervin, Sarah Klau
Constellation Cup Fixtures
The first two Tests of the Constellation Cup are being held in Australia before the return leg in New Zealand.
Friday 17 October - Diamonds v Silver Ferns, at John Cain Arena, Melbourne - 9:30pm NZ
Wednesday 22 October - Diamonds v Silver Ferns, at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney - 9:30pm NZ
Sunday 26 October, at Globox Arena, Hamilton - 4:10pm NZ
Wednesday 29 October, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch - 7:40pm NZ
What happens if it's two wins apiece?
Last year a tie-breaker was introduced to the series, although it wasn't required in 2024.
If the Constellation Cup is tied two games apiece at the end of the fourth Test, series decider time will be used to decide the outright winner.
The teams will take a 12-minute break after the end of the fourth game before heading back to court for series decider time, which consists of two seven-minute halves.
Whichever team is leading at the end will be declared the winner of the series and the Constellation Cup trophy.
If the scores are tied at the end of series decider time, the match will move into a period of series decider additional time where play will continue until one team gets a two-goal lead.
Form going in
The Diamonds warmed up for the Constellation Cup with a 3-nil sweep of South Africa, with the final test on Sunday. The Diamonds ran out comfortable winners by margins of 11, 27, and 23 goals.
The Silver Ferns also enjoyed a clean sweep over South Africa in their recent series but they only just escaped with a 1 goal win in the final Test.
The Silver Ferns won the first test by 26, and the second by 12 goals.
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