Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua has delivered a warning to her incumbent players that competition for selection will be fierce, as she finalises her plans for the Commonwealth Games.
Dame Noeline hints she isn't impressed with the form of certain players in the ANZ Premiership and that could be reflected in the squad she names for Birmingham.
"I'm open," Dame Noeline told Newshub. "Probably the next 5-6 weeks, as they lean into the business end, is great viewing for me to see what they can do."
With the domestic playoffs now only weeks away, Taurua had hoped leading players would have stood out more than she believes they have.
"I think there's been inconsistencies from team to team and player to player," she added.
Taurua understands COVID-19 has had an impact, but insists it's ultimately down to the players job to produce quality netball.
"There's a level of performance that's required and when it comes down to selections, it's going to be pretty fierce," she said.
Fierce is one way to describe her fitness standards. Many of the Silver Ferns' key players - most recently Kelly Jury - have previously failed to reach her expectations, but Taurua refuses to change her approach, even if that means leaving senior players behind.
"It is the same as always... and these fitness standards have been the same as always for the last 2-3 years."
Taurua took over the coaching reins, after the Ferns failed to medal at the last Commonwealth Games and she's determined that doesn't happen again on her watch.
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