Changes expected in Diamonds netball side
There will be at least two changes in the Australian netball squad for next month's Constellation Cup against New Zealand, with the Diamonds seeking some revenge against their arch-rivals for the World Cup loss.
The last meeting between the Diamonds and Silver Ferns was the World Cup final in England in July, when the Kiwis edged the Australians 52-51 in a heart-breaker.
Netball Australia will on Thursday morning announce the squad for the four-game series which opens in Christchurch on October 13 and continues to Auckland on October 16. The final two games will be played in Sydney (October 20) and Perth (October 27).
It will be the last hit-out for the Australians until well into next year with the Diamonds opting to skip the inaugural Netball Nations Cup in England in January to rest the players.
Replacing the Quad Series, the new competition will be staged in three English cities and feature England, world champions New Zealand, South Africa and Jamaica.
Two faces who will be missing from the World Cup squad are midcourter Kelsey Browne and goalkeeper April Brandley.
Browne underwent a knee reconstruction in August after going down in a Super Netball match while fellow Collingwood player Brandley is due to have a baby in February.
The absence of Browne is likely to open the door for Vixens captain Kate Maloney and/or long-time Diamond Gabi Simpson in coach Lisa Alexander's line-up.
The pair missed selection for the World Cup, but still travelled to Liverpool with the squad as training partners, as did Emily Mannix.
The goalkeeper could reunite with her Vixens teammate Jo Weston, who has a lock on goal defence.
Alexander could also reward Swifts defender Maddy Turner for helping her team to the Super Netball title.
Turner combined well with current Diamonds selection Sarah Klau to upset the Lightning in the final.
Another Vixen, Tegan Philip, was the fourth training partner but Alexander may opt to look toward the future with young Lightning shooter Cara Koenen or attacking Giant Kiera Austin putting their hands up.
