The national netball championships begin tomorrow and end in Tauranga on October 5. Adrian Seconi casts his eye over the top teams.
Top six
Otago
Last year: Runner-up.
Key players: Shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit and goal keep Demelza McCloud.
Coach: Deb Tasi-Cordtz.
Prospects: The beaten finalist last season, Otago is a well-balanced team with good depth. The loss of shooter Jodi Brown to the Silver Ferns is a huge blow but Selby-Rickit is one of the more accurate shooters in the competition. Getting the ball to her should be a breeze with quality midcourters Shannon Francois and Gina Crampton likely to provide first-class service. Demelza McCloud leads an impressive back court, which includes Storm Purvis.
Canterbury
Last year: Champion.
Key players: Shooter Anna Thompson and defender Elizabeth Manu.
Coach: Tania Hoffman.
Prospects: Secured back-to-back titles with 63-59 win against a spirited Otago side last season. The team is missing defenders Anna Galvan and Charlotte Kight and there is no Maree Bowden in the midcourt to provide the links. But shooters Sophia Fenwick and Ellen Halpenny have returned and Anna Thompson is another quality option in the shooting circle. Elizabeth Manu is an experienced and uncompromising defender.
Bay of Plenty
Last year: Third.
Key players: Shooter Arahi Wall and physical defender Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick.
Coach: Jodi Todd.
Prospects: Was the surprise package last season. Shooter Arahi Wall was good value and will need to be at her best again, and Magic defenders Tone-Fitzpatrick and Erena Mikaere shape as key players.
Wellington
Last year: Fourth.
Key players: Shooter Te Amo Amaru-Tibble and experienced defender Victoria Smith.
Coach: Natasha Parsons.
Prospects: Achieved some good results last season and has a good core of experienced players in defender Victoria Smith and midcourter Daya Wiffen. Shooter Jamilah Gupwill has also been around for a while and will likely partner the highly-rated Te Amo Amaru-Tibble in the circle.
Auckland-Waitakere
Last year: Fifth.
Key players: Defender Charlotte Kight and Silver Ferns extended squad member Grace Rasmussen.
Coach: Natalie Milicich.
Prospects: Disappointed last season with fifth place. Beat Western in a promotion-relegation match but will be determined to avoid that indignity again by finishing the round robin in the top four. Midcourter Portia Woodman made the tournament team last season and will link ends, both of which contain a Rasmussen. Grace is likely to start at goal attack while Rachel should be in the defensive circle.
Waikato
Last year: Seventh.
Key players: Co-captains and Jessica Tuki and Elias Shadrock.
Coach: Rebecca Gabel.
Prospects: Earned promotion from the bottom six with a win against Southland. Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic pair Tuki and Shadrock form a formidable duo in the midcourt but a lot of pressure will go on shooter Hayley Stockman and the defensive end.
Bottom six
With possible promotion at stake, the bottom six shapes as a three-way race involving Southland, which was demoted last season, North and Western.
Western finished second in the bottom six last season but could not beat Auckland-Waitakere to earn promotion.
There is talent at both ends, with Pulse defender Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and shooter Amber Bellringer.
Southland's strength in is its midcourt trio Hayley Saunders, Hayley Crofts and Kendall McMinn, while the Yvonne Willering-coached North will look to experienced shooter Brigette Tapene and Mystic defender and former Otago player Jess Moulds for inspiration.
Counties-Manukau, Tasman and Eastern finished 10th, 11th and 12th respectively last season and will probably round out the final three places again this year.
Netball National championships
Otago's draw: v Waikato, Dunedin, tomorrow, noon; v Auckland-Waitakere, Auckland, September 9; v Wellington, Porirua, September 16; v Canterbury, Dunedin, September 23. Finals,October 3-5, Tauranga.
Otago: Shannon Francois (captain), Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Kate Shearer, Olivia Bates, Gina Crampton, Stacey Peeters, Miaana Walden, Demelza McCloud, Storm Purvis, Zoe Walker, Greir Campbell.
Format: The top six play each other in a round robin, with the top four qualifiers progressing to the semifinals. The fifth and sixth-placed teams will play promotion-relegation games against the first and second-placed teams in the bottom six.
