Netball writer Adrian Seconi identifies five players to watch in the ANZ Championship.
Laura Langman
It would be rude not to mention the Silver Ferns and Magic midcourter. She was named joint MVP last year, and her role in helping the Magic fight back from a disastrous start to win the title cannot be emphasised enough.
Langman is the ultimate battler and a poor start just seemed to bring out the best in her.
Madison Browne
The dynamic Australian and Melbourne Vixens midcourter had a stellar season last year. Her pace, fitness and ability to control the tempo of a match and feed her shooters has seen her emerge as a player of immense quality.
She led the ANZ Championship in goal assists in 2012 and is the linchpin of a talented Vixens side.
Jhaniele Fowler
Move over Carla Borrego or Romelda Aiken - fellow Jamaican shooter Jhaniele Fowler is poised to make her debut in the ANZ Championship, and at 1.98m she is the tallest player in the competition.
The Steel recruit has performed strongly in the pre-season, and with experienced goal attack Jodi Brown feeding her the ball, the Steel looks set to surprise a few of the front-runners.
Leana de Bruin
The Silver Ferns and Magic defender just seems to get better with age. While team-mate Casey Williams often hogs the limelight, de Bruin was arguably the most consistent defender in the ANZ Championship last season.
She finished in the top five for intercepts (fifth), rebounds (second) and deflections (second), and in 2011 was named joint MVP. A class player.
Cathrine Latu
No-one can claim to have been as accurate as Latu last season, and that includes Irene van Dyk. The Silver Ferns and Mystic shooter missed just 10 of her 403 attempts at goal - a 97.5% accuracy rate.
She is the main reason the Mystics made the playoffs last year and a key player again this year. All her team needs to do is get her the ball when she is in shooting range and she will do the rest.
