Diamonds netball coach flags changes

Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander is considering changes to her starting seven for the final Constellation Cup Test against New Zealand.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander (R)

Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander (R) is mulling changes for the 4th Constellation Cup Test. (AAP)

Diamonds netball coach Lisa Alexander is set to tinker with her starting seven for the final Constellation Cup Test against New Zealand, with players auditioning for Commonwealth Games spots.

Australia already hold a 3-0 lead in the four-Test series which wraps up on Saturday at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena.

National selectors have just a handful of matches left before the Commonwealth Games: Saturday's match then the Quad Series early in the new year in England and South Africa.

Alexander stuck with the same Australian starting side for the first three Tests, although only three of them were on court by the end of Wednesday night's series-clinching win over the Silver Ferns.

"We are likely to make some changes, based on the fact we just need to make sure we get athletes out there prior to Commonwealth Games selection, and also this next Quad Series, for the selectors to see," Alexander said.

"Although we did get most of the squad out the other night, so we're very pleased with that and we will stick to our process.

"If we think we need to start a particular way with a particular line-up, that's what we'll do. We won't make change just for change's sake."

Midcourter Kate Moloney made an assured debut in the Third Test and was named in the final 12 for Saturday's game.

Defender Emily Mannix was the one player from the squad of 13 omitted for the match, which is expected to draw more than 10,000 fans.

Alexander didn't make the squad watch the entire third quarter from Wednesday night, when the Silver Ferns outscored her side by seven.

"It's not a matter of making people sit through 15 minutes of torture. It's a matter of being really strategic about the areas that need to be improved and we know what they are," she said.

Australia have won seven of the eight Constellation Cup series, but have only swept the Silver Ferns once - in 2014.


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Source: AAP


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Diamonds netball coach flags changes | SBS News