Injury and illness are threatening to derail the Silver Ferns chances of retaining their Netball Quad Series title.
Silver Ferns Head Coach Janine Southby Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2017 www.photosport.nz
Several players are managing minor injuries while others battle the flu since arriving to Johannesburg following their disappointing 64 to 57 loss to England in game one in London.
"One or two have picked up cold after being in freezing cold London and there's a few stiff and tired bodies." says Coach Janine Southby.
"The flights and the general challenges of going from one place to another place we've gone from freezing cold snow on Sunday in London to 30 degrees in South Africa."
This could mean opportunity for players who didn't feature against England to receive court time when they face South Africa on Friday morning, with only one day left to make an impression.
"We do have a few niggles in the group we are managing. We have one final training run tomorrow afternoon where we will look at the starting line to confirm." says Southby.
"The intention is to give everyone game time if we can get to that state."
Both the Silver Ferns and South Africa are yet to win a game in the Netball Quad series, they will play on Friday morning at 6am (NZT) at Ellis Park Arena in Johannesburg.