Netball: For the Steel to succeed, it must...

With nine personnel changes, new coaching staff and some poor pre-season results, few are picking the Steel as a force in the ANZ Championship this season. But if the combined Otago-Southland team gets the basics right, perhaps it can surprise a few pundits. Netball writer Adrian Seconi highlights five keys to success.

Steel defender Demelza McCloud waterblasts some team branding outside Mitre 10 Mega store in Dunedin on Saturday. The Steel franchise has linked with Dunedin agency Clean Advertising NZ to develop an eco-friendly promotional campaign this season. The footpath stencil cleans dirt off surfaces to produce a temporary Steel message, which can last up to two months. Photo by Peter McIntosh.

With plenty of rookies in the squad, the Steel will be wanting to get off to a promising start, even if it does not string a lot of wins together. Losing can be contagious, but a crisis in confidence can be even harder to overcome. In saying that, wins against the Central Pulse in round two and the Canterbury Tactix the following week are not negotiable.

> Utilise its experience

A lot has been made of all the changes in the Steel camp, but the southerners can draw on plenty of experience. Shooters Jodi Brown and Donna Wilkins have both played for the Silver Ferns and anchor a promising attack end. Defenders Sheryl Scanlan and Demelza McCloud have also played international netball, and midcourter Phillipa Finch is a vastly experienced player.

> Build on its home record

The Steel has an excellent record at home, particularly in Dunedin, where the team has lost just once in four years.

Crowds are boisterous, enthusiastic and just a little fanatical, especially in Invercargill, where the game has a proud history.

But will some fans choose to stay away out of a sense of loyalty to previous coach Robyn Broughton, who left when the franchise decided to advertise her job?

> Optimise its draw

The Steel has never won an ANZ Championship match in Australia, so it is just as well the team only has to cross the Tasman twice - once to play the Adelaide Thunderbirds and then to play the New South Wales Swifts. The Steel also gets to play the Tactix and the Pulse - two of the traditionally weaker teams in the tournament - twice.

> Make use of its shooters

In Brown and Wilkins, the Steel has two quality shooters.

But the fact they have not played together before will be of some concern. The combination will take some time to gel, but Brown has a superb passing game and Wilkins can be deadly accurate and is a fierce competitor. They should form a formidable unit.