Premiership players to lend helping hand

The Silver Ferns will use premiership players from the Tactix and Magic at Constellation Cup training sessions to ease the workload of their depleted defensive end.

Typically, the Ferns carry four defenders in their squad for major series, but unavailability, injuries and failed fitness tests has left them with just three defenders.

Karin Burger, Jane Watson, and Sulu Fitzpatrick are the only frontline defenders in the 14-player squad to face Australia in the four-match series, starting in Christchurch on Tuesday.

Other features of the squad include the return of 70-cap shooting veteran Bailey Mes, who rejoins the Ferns after a patella cartilage injury sidelined her last year.

Pulse midcourter Maddy Gordon is poised to become Silver Fern No 177 after being named in a midcourt-heavy group of seven. The 21-year-old was selected in the Ferns’ national squad for the first time last year, but wasn’t required against England.

Without centurion Katrina Rore (pregnant), Phoenix Karaka (a new mother), and Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (ruptured Achilles tendon), the Ferns are missing several top defenders. Kelly Jury and Erena Mikaere were among a group of players who didn’t meet their 16.3 yoyo test conditioning standard, further weakening the defensive depth.

That left coach Dame Noeline Taurua with just three defenders for this series. The Ferns will need to be savvy around how they use them at training and across the four matches.

To get around the problem, defenders from the premiership and second-tier Beko League teams of the Tactix (when the team is in Christchurch) and Magic (Tauranga) will be used at training to manage the workload of Watson, Burger and Fitzpatrick.

‘‘We rely heavily on the clubs to support us in that respect, so we’re not overloading everybody else. As per normal we’re very clear about what the loads are each individual can do,’’ Taurua said.

‘‘We just have to marry that up with the trainings that we have, so we’re physically ready and not overcooked or undercooked when we hit the first test.’’

It is an important series for 22-cap Burger, who hasn’t quite been able to lock down a regular Ferns starting spot. She has joined the Tactix from the champion Pulse and is set to line up alongside new domestic team-mate Watson in the Ferns’ first-choice defensive pairing.