Giants midcourt Jamie-Lee Price backs Diamonds' captaincy rotation for Constellation Cup

Midcourter Jamie-Lee Price believes the arrival of the West Coast Fever mentor will usher in an entirely new era for the national side.

Marinkovich has made the unconventional decision to use a captaincy rotation for her first Test series at the Diamonds' helm, with a separate leader to be selected ahead of each match against New Zealand next month.

Netball Australia will select a permanent leadership group following the tour, giving all athletes within the squad an opportunity to stamp their credentials as the Diamonds' next skipper.

Price has welcomed Marinkovich's approach because after returning from a year's absence of international netball with a new playing group and coaching staff, it's important to see who best fits the team.

"It gives the staff a big opportunity to see who's capable and really fits the role as a leader," Price said.

"Especially having a new coaching staff and panel, they're probably wanting to test and try out new combinations, a new leadership group and everything. I think it's really exciting.

"If you look at our squad, we have so many leaders in this team. It gives everyone an opportunity to have their time and see who best fits it."

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The Diamonds will enter the Constellation Cup with an element of the unknown with a new set of coaches, seven potential debutants and how they'll back up a fortnight's quarantine in Christchurch.

Dame Noeline Taurua is yet to unveil her Silver Ferns squad for the series that starts on March 2, but the coach has limited options after sending five athletes home for failing to reach fitness standards last month.

Price is still expecting a tough Taurua-led outfit, given the Kiwis have had longer to prepare and played a full ANZ Championship last year.

The Giants star said the Constellation Cup will mark the first chapter of their new cycle, with the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2023 World Cup looming on the horizon.

"Noeline has set some very high standards for the Silver Ferns and that really showed in the [2019] World Cup. You can never underestimate the Kiwis, she has set so much belief in them as a group and they've definitely come a long way," Price said.

"I think it's going to be very tough. It's really exciting, being the first chapter for us heading into the new cycle.

"Our goal is Commonwealth Games and World Cup, we're really looking to build starting from this Constellation Cup all the way to 2023.

"We have a couple of years for this, this is the start of our journey and we're really looking forward to starting it against the Kiwis and it's going to be tough.

"This is a great opportunity for us, we have four games in seven days to see the combinations and how we go together. We haven't played international netball in a whole year."

CONSTELLATION CUP 2021