The decision over whether Katrina Rore will be going to this week's Netball World Cup in Liverpool will come down to the wire.
Katrina Rore (nee Grant) in action against Malawi at the 2018 Taini Jamison trophy Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
The Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua has to make the final decision by the squad-submission deadline of 9 July.
The team's had a couple of practice matches against the eighth ranked Scottish side.
Taurua said Rore was able to get some limited court time.
"She took the court both yesterday and today against Scotland and I'm really rapt by what she's able to do out there on court. It was only 15 minutes spurts for both games but it was definitely positive," Taurua said.
"So we'll reassess her today and we've also got a training session this afternoon, where we'll have another look at her and from then on from the medical team and what we need in management we'll be able to discuss whether she is going to be with us or not and then what the plan is around her."
The Silver Ferns added defender Michaela Sokolich-Beatson to their squad to travel to the netball world cup as injury cover for the former captain.
Noeline Taurua is happy with the team's progress.
"This is only our third or fourth day, post travel so it's been pretty full on but I'm really happy with the content we've been able to cover and I think the confidence in the group has really grown especially coming out of the Cadbury series last week."
The Silver Ferns have two more training sessions before the Liverpool tournament.
Silver Ferns defender Phoenix Karaka believes they will handle the loaded World Cup schedule.
"We've got our bodies prepared, we're all really excited to just get out there and when you get out there and you're at a World Cup playing for New Zealand, it doesn't matter how hard it is or how sore your body is, you're just going to give it 100 percent."
Karaka said they built some confidence during the Cadbury series in New Zealand and they've been consolidating that in their hit-outs against Scotland.
Karaka, who's at her second Netball World Cup, said the players were still pushing each other.
"We all know what we've got to do and what our job is and I think that brings clarity to the team and then the fun just kind of flows and I think that's what we've done really well with the World Cup team. But it's good because it's competitive and every training there's a challenge and you're competing with someone for your position."
