11 Aug 2015

Top four square off at Netball World Champs

8:32 pm on 11 August 2015

The top four nations are squaring off at the Netball World Cup in Sydney tonight in the first round of qualification matches.

New Zealand, on the back of their upset win over Australia, are playing Jamaica while Australia - the reigning world champions - will play England.

Silver Ferns defenders Casey Grant (left) and Casey Kopua battle it out with Australia shooter Caitlin Bassett.

Silver Ferns defenders Casey Grant (left) and Casey Kopua battle it out with Australia shooter Caitlin Bassett. Photo: NWC 2015

New Zealand will have to play well to negotiate the fourth-ranked Jamaicans, as they embark on the next phase of the competition in Sydney.

Having already played Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, New Zealand are well placed to deal with the aerial style of the Jamaicans.

The Sunshine Girls, however, boast six-foot-plus goal shooters Romelda Aitken and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.

Aitken could be also deployed at goal keeper to negate the rebounding skills of Bailey Mes.

Directly after the Silver Ferns' game, which started at about 8.20pm (NZST), Australia will meet an ever-improving England.

If New Zealand and Australia prevail, it is almost certain New Zealand will play England in the semi-finals on Saturday.

Any slip-up, though, and they could be forced to meet Australia - a scenario both sides and tournament organisers will be wanting to avoid.

Australia's warning to England

Meanwhile, Australia has warned England they may bear the brunt of the Diamonds' surprise loss to New Zealand.

Australia vice-captain Kim Green said her team had never been more motivated to win following the loss and that they need to come to grips with the new look Silver Ferns side as the tournament advances.

"They've just got a completely different line-up. They've got a moving [attacking] circle, which is extremely effective," she said.

"Their defence was just so narrowing. We were all in the same spot and they did a really great job.

"They had obviously done their homework and the great thing now is that we can go away and do our homework and know exactly what we are coming up against."