NEVILLE LOOKING FOR GR-EIGHT SUPPORT

TRACEY NEVILLE is living the dream as she sends her Roses out today gunning for a first-ever place in the World Cup Final.

But she has pleaded with supporters to rise up and roar England to victory in their semi-final showdown against New Zealand at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. The Roses will be in desperate need of an ‘eighth player’ as they take on a resurgent Silver Ferns.

And coach Neville said: “My dream has always been to have a stadium full of red and white in my home region.

“We want to hear noise. We need them to be the force that’s driving us.”

Captain Serena Guthrie (left) faces the battle of her life as she takes on netball’s equivalent of Cristiano Ronaldo – New Zealand captain Laura Langman. The sensational centre jumps like a cricket, bends like rubber and races around the court like a speed skater.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Langman. “Serena loves an event and this is going to be one. The crowd is going to play an epic role.”

Neville is convinced her centre has just as much right to be in the spotlight, though, having been instrumental in England’s 58-47 victory over South Africa on Thursday.

“Serena was world class before she became our captain but now she’s a leader,” added Neville.

“The only player I can think of who can match her is Laura Langman and Serena is going to go down in the history books just like her.”

New Zealand flopped at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia, leaving without a medal for the first time.

Star shooter Helen Housby admitted they have come on in leaps and bounds since and said: “We’re confident going into the game but we know England will be strong.”