The Otago Goldrush has made one change to the side that won three of its four games during the opening tournament of the Women's Basketball Championship in Tauranga earlier this month.
Experienced guard Soraya Umaga-Jensen replaces Nicole Ruske in the squad. Ruske has commitments with the Junior Tall Ferns.
‘‘[Umaga-Jensen] has been around a long time and brings an element of toughness, and she is a very good player as well,'' coach Todd Marshall said.
The second leg of the WBC gets under way in Nelson tomorrow and the defending champion will go into the tournament with confidence after recording a 72-70 overtime win against Canterbury in a friendly match in Christchurch on Friday.
Canterbury was undefeated in Tauranga with four wins and it shapes as the biggest threat for the Goldrush.
But of more immediate concern for Marshall is how his side will go this week.
The Goldrush opens with a game against the Tauranga City Coasters tomorrow afternoon and plays the Waitakere Lady Rangers in the evening.
On Saturday, Otago has a game against Te Tai Tokerau Phoenix and finishes off with a fixture against the Waikato Wizards on Sunday morning.
‘‘Waikato are always tough. They have always had a good programme and, even if they are down on stars, they are always well drilled and they all know what they are doing.
‘‘But Waitakere are looking pretty strong this year. They've picked up a few players because North Harbour don't have a team.‘‘
Tauranga and Te Tai Tokerau, historically, have struggled. They have the ability to keep you honest and you need to front.''
Otago can afford to drop a couple of games and remain in contention but the team is targeting a perfect round.
‘‘If things go to form, theoretically you could lose two and still get in the top six. But really, we just have to go out with the attitude that we want to win all four.''
Otago Goldrush
Natalie Visger, Janet Main, Bronwyn Kjestrup, Natalie Smith, Claudia Flaws, Aleisha Ruske, Grace Love, Kelly Groot, Danielle Frost, Olivia O'Neill, Amy Waqauai, Soraya Umaga-Jensen.
