Steph Wood is still firmly in contention to shoot for Australia at next year's Netball World Cup despite Gretel Tippett's dominant finish to the Test season.
While Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander admitted Tippett was among the standouts of the Constellation Cup-clinching 58-47 win over New Zealand in Wellington, she can't say who will play goal attack at next year's World Cup.
Wood began the series as the first-choice support act to captain and goal shoot Caitlin Bassett and shaped as the most likely long-term replacement for the retired Susan Pettitt.
Yet Alexander promoted dynamic Queensland Firebirds attacker Tippett into her starting team for the fourth and deciding Test on Thursday.
Tippett's aerial game and combination with Bassett and wing attack Kelsey Browne was a handful for the Silver Ferns defence and Alexander didn't go to her bench once.
However, the coach said ruling stylish Sunshine Coast Lightning star Wood out of World Cup starting contention nine months from the tournament in Liverpool would be foolish.
Wood had felt the effects of a long year, Alexander said, including her Super Netball title-winning efforts alongside Browne and Bassett.
"Steph Wood is a terrific player, a beautiful, creative goal attack. I won't be saying Gretel's taken her spot just yet," Alexander said.
"She'll go away and have a rest now and come back bigger and better next year.
Bassett had no preference whether she links with clubmate Wood, 26, or former WNBL basketballer Tippett, who is 18 months younger and brings unorthodoxy.
"I do love playing with Gretel, I think she's a different player and tonight she was really strong at driving to the post, which gave me the opportunity to pop out and mix things up a little bit," Bassett said.
"Yes, it can become a bit predictable with me playing at the post so I really enjoyed that freedom."
Alexander was to stage a selection meeting on Saturday to consider her squad for the Quad Series in England in January.
The squad will be announced after the Fast Five tournament in Melbourne next week.
Alexander confirmed experienced midcourter Kim Ravaillion will come back into contention after sitting out the Constellation Cup but experienced defender Renae Inglis remained unavailable.
