The Spar national netball team, currently ranked sixth in the world, have been warned by SASCOC that they will not be included in Team South Africa for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi unless they improve their ranking to five, and coach Carin Strauss believes the Proteas can do just that, as they prepare for a home series against the team’s arch-nemesis, Malawi.

Fifth-place ranked Malawi has caused the Proteas much grief in the last few years, but whether they really are ready will be tested from April 21 to 25, when South Africa meet Malawi in a three-Test series, to be held at Richards Bay in KwaZulu Natal.

In recent years, Malawi have been a thorn in South Africa’s flesh, beating them at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 and finishing ahead of the Proteas in the World Championships in New Zealand in 2007. Malawi also beat South Africa in the final of the Cosana Games in Durban last September.

The Proteas have been working hard in preparation for the crucial series against Malawi. There have been several training camps and all members of the national squad took part in the merit tournament held at Tuks sports grounds earlier this month.

Strauss said after the merit tournament that she was happy with the readiness of the team. “They have been working hard on their fitness programmes and they all looked pretty sharp on the court,” she said. “I think we’re ready to take on Malawi – and beat them.”

Strauss explained that it was very important to take part in the Commonwealth Games as part of South Africa’s preparations for the World Championships in Singapore next year. “We need the experience of playing in a tournament, which is always very tough,” she said. “So we are really determined to beat Malawi and have a chance of going to Delhi.”

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