Diamonds' captain and defensive linchpin Laura Geitz will be carefully managed by Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander, after committing to the their Commonwealth Games title defence in two years time.
Speculation over whether the 28-year-old goalkeeper would retire has intensified in recent weeks and she was non-committal about her future after leading the Firebirds to the final trans-Tasman title last Sunday.
Geitz was on Thursday named in Alexander'S 2016-17 squad of 18, but will be rested from the upcoming Quad Series against England, New Zealand and South Africa, starting later this month.
Asked if Geitz had committed to the Diamonds program for any length of time Alexander told AAP "absolutely, she's on board and looking forward to the Commonwealth Games down the track.
"We have to manage her very carefully and that's what we're doing."
Geitz, who captained Australia to Commonwealth Games and World Cup titles in 2014 and 15 respectively has occasionally been rested by Alexander before and didn't go on the tour to England earlier in the year.
"That was to ensure her longevity, she does have and has had niggles, we just have make to sure we look after her," Alexander said.
In Geitz's absence, her Firebirds defensive colleague Clare McMeniman will captain the side, as she did in the England series.
The squad includes three uncapped players in Swifts shooter Stephanie Wood, New Zealand-born Magic defender Kristiana Manu'a and midcourter Caitlyn Nevins, who joins the Firebirds other five Australian starters from their title-winning team.
Wood and Manu'a have been named in the squad of 12 for the Quad Series starting in Auckland on August 27.
Nevins hasn't been named in the 12 along with Geitz, midcourter Paige Hadley, defender Jo Weston and shooters Susan Pettitt and Gretel Tippett.
Among the players not considered due to injury were the Fever duo of defender Courtney Bruce and midcourter Ash Brazill and Vixens shooters Tegan Philip and Karyn Bailey.
Diamonds team for Quad Series: Caitlin Bassett, April Brandley, Sharni Layton, Kristiana Manua, Clare McMeniman, Natalie Medhurst, Kim Ravaillion, Madi Robinson, Gabi Simpson, Caitlin Thwaites, Liz Watson, Stephanie Wood.
