Netball: Holiday over, Ferns face Brisbane heat

The Silver Ferns' summer holidays have been cut short this year as they kick off their Commonwealth Games campaign with a 10-day training camp in Brisbane.

The full New Zealand squad, with the exception of injured defender Sheryl Scanlan, flew out to Brisbane yesterday for what coach Ruth Aitken describes as a "full-on conditioning camp".

Aitken said the next 10 days were about setting the tone for what would be a busy 18 months ahead, including the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in October and the 2011 World Champs in Singapore.

The players will take part in four sessions a day, working with a range of sports science experts from the New Zealand Academy of Sport including strength and conditioning trainers, physiologists and power specialists.

"They're in for a hard slog," said Aitken.

"It's only 18 months through to Worlds in 2011 so we've got that real immediacy of a campaign upon us. We want to really lay the foundations in terms of the fitness levels, skills levels and some of the tactical side of things."

On top of the physical load, the players will have to contend with the Queensland heat, which Aitken hopes will prepare her side for the "uncomfortable conditions" in India.

While the balmy Brisbane weather is considerably different from the oppressive heat in India, Aitken believes the conditions will still be challenging.

"It is a different type of heat in India that's for sure, and it would have been nice to take them somewhere like Singapore, but that was just totally unrealistic with this number of people."

Following the team's return from Australia, the New Zealand coaching staff will not get their hands on the full squad again until July when trials will be held at the conclusion of the transtasman league.

With that in mind, players will be out to impress during the training camp and Aitken admits those making the trip over to Brisbane have an advantage when it comes to selecting her test side later this year. Barring any injuries or unforseen circumstances, the 12-strong team named for the test series against Jamaica and Australia will be the same 12 that will defend their Commonwealth Games gold medal in Delhi.

But the door is still open for players outside the current squad to stake their claim for a test position over the next six months.

Shooters Jodi Brown, Daneka Wipiiti and defender Leana de Bruin will all be returning to the selection fray this year after having babies in the past 12 months and Aitken said their road back would be through strong ANZ Championship seasons.

"The performances during ANZ are going to be hugely important and there is the opportunity for those players to come back in, there would obviously be a lot of learning that they would have to do as well if they come in a bit later," she said.

Aitken said the selectors considered taking Brown to Queensland, but a flare-up of a knee injury prevented the 28-time Fern from making the trip. She did not yet have enough strength in the knee.