Hoffman looking for right blend

Christchurch’s defence of the national netball performance centre title will come down to how well the team blends together of experience and youth when they pull on the red and black dress.

They play their first match against Tokoroa on Monday and coach Tania Hoffman has one more training session, after which she will name her team with no one guaranteed a starting spot.

‘‘It’s not very often that we have a few youngsters, so it’s being able to blend the experience with the youth and it’s exciting.’’

She’ll be helped by a core group of players who were part of the championship winning side in 2014, although their preparations have been slightly delayed by Juliana Na’oupu’s participation in the Netball World Cup for Samoa.

Na’oupu will be a formidable force in the circle. If she fires at her best the team can hope to be up there contesting the knockout rounds.

‘‘We in past years have had the experience of Ellen Halpenny who’s withdrawn from the initial list this year,’’ said Hoffman.

‘‘It’s a little bit of a different look to last season but still a lot of experience there.’’

Last year Christchurch beat North Harbour by 10 goals in the final. They’re still expected to be one of the top teams twelve months later although Hoffman said they won’t approach their matches as reigning champions.

‘‘We’re a different team and we’re playing different teams as well, so we’re more of a contender, not a defender.’’

Hoffman said her team won’t be intimidated by the big names and believed it was important that the younger members of the squad had opportunities to match up against players like Cathrine Latu who’ll represent Waitakere.

‘‘They’ve had the experience already in our warm up matches, so they know what’s it’s like. Lily Fletcher was unfortunate enough to be between Latu, her pass and Waitakere’s goal attack, so she knows what that feels like.’’

Earlier in September Christ- church played Waitakere in a warm up match and beat them 87-79. They also had a chance to scope out their opponents in Pool A, Auckland, who they defeated by 29 goals.

She said the fight for the semi finals will likely be between Christchurch, North Harbour, Waitakere, Wellington and Auckland. That’s still five teams competing for four semi final places, so Hoffman knows the importance of finishing top of her pool.

Christchurch: Anna Thompson (C), Anteisha O’Connell, Charlotte Elley, Chloe Williamson, Hannah Poff, Hayley Saunders, Jane Watson, Juliana Na’oupu, Kate Shearer, Lily Fletcher, Louise Thayer, Sophia Fenwick.