Diamonds coach excited as Netball World Cup looms

Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich feels the presence of the world's best international netballers in Super Netball can only enhance the national team's chances of success in the upcoming Netball World Cup.

Having recently signed a new four-year contract to remain at the helm of the Diamonds, Marinkovich's first assignment will be to help top-ranked Australia regain their status as world champions following a heartbreaking one-goal loss to New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup final.

The 2023 World Cup kicks off on July 28th in South Africa with the Diamonds pitted against Zimbabwe, Tonga and Fiji before a likely meeting with England in the second stage of group play to determine their semi-final placing.

Marinkovich shared the view that Australian players could only benefit from battling week-to-week against the influx of quality imports into the local competition in the aftermath of Adelaide Thunderbirds' stunning 60-59 extra-time victory over NSW Swifts in Saturday's 2023 Super Netball decider.

"That's the beauty of Super Netball - having those international athletes, that's what we want," Marinkovich told Fox Sports after witnessing Adelaide's victory over the Swifts at John Cain Arena on Saturday night.

"We want to be able to see the best and I'll definitely be looking closely at it as I have been all season."

English duo Eleanor Cardwell and Helen Housby played starring roles for their respective teams in the grand final with Cardwell awarded player-of-the-match honours following her 36-goal effort in Adelaide drought-breaking win.

The performance of Jamaican defensive pair Shamera Sterling (seven gains, three intercepts) and Latanya Wilson (four gains, four deflections) also gave Marinkovich food for thought with the Sunshine Girls hoping to win their first World Cup medal since 2007.

"I think they've got athleticism, obviously, but I think for us it'll be the unit and how we can move the ball and get it to that circle and get it with some speed," Marinkovich said about a prospective match-up with Jamaica.

"They're obviously good in the air. It doesn't mean you can't go there, but we've got to go with some pace so we'll be working as a complete unit and not just centre around a goal shooter-goal keeper battle."

The Diamonds' squad will assemble on Monday for a final training camp before making their way to Cape Town ahead of their opening match against Zimbabwe.

While NSW Swifts players Sarah Klau and Paige Hadley will be eased into camp after taking part in the grand final, Marinkovich is excited to get the rest of the squad together now that a gruelling Super Netball season has been completed.

"I've got to balance the excitement, just making sure we don't overload them because it's been huge, there have been huge battles out there. We've just got to go step by step and be ready for the first game," Marinkovich said.