Wilson, who turns 19 later this month, was the only member of the 12-strong Ferns line-up who didn't get out on court in their 38-goal hammering of Jamaica in the opening test over the weekend. With New Zealand coach Janine Southby aiming to get everyone in the squad on court in this series, Wilson is expected to get her call in Palmerston North.
The heat of international competition won't be new to the talented young shooter, however, with Wilson having already represented New Zealand in basketball. She will join the likes of Belinda Colling and Donna Wilkins in becoming a dual code international.
Silver Ferns assistant coach Yvette McCausland-Durie expects Wilson to get an opportunity at some point in the series, but it is a matter of making sure the circumstances are right before they introduce the youngster.
"We definitely would like to see Maia get her time," said McCausland-Durie. "We've been really impressed with how, for somebody so young, she has been able to embrace everything in the environment, managed to maintain really good focus in practices and in team talks and be a real contributor. And I think that is a true sense of her character.
"It would be nice to be able to get Maia out there and certainly our intention is to ensure that, if that opportunity comes, it is in a space where she can be successful, so it's not too far away I'm sure."
The Ferns were a class above the world No4 Jamaicans, who are missing star shooters Romelda Aiken and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, in Sunday's opening test, keeping the visitors under eight goals for each of the first three quarters.
While the contest was not as competitive as fans may have hoped, McCausland-Durie believes the series will still set the Ferns up well for next month's Constellation Cup showdown with Australia.
"I think Jamaica certainly has the physicality and, whilst they don't have the big tall shooters, they do have a very fast, mobile game," she said. "The big thing is setting targets in terms of the processes and the steps we need to go through. What we're finding really worthwhile is, the players are articulating quite clearly the pieces where they can make progress."
- Dana Johannsen of The New Zealand Herald
