By Charmaine Austin, Staf ReporterTHERE WILL be pandemonium inside the National Indoor Sports Centre this afternoon but not the type to worry the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODEPM).
Netball fans will go wild cheering as world champions Australia lock horns with high-riding Jamaica in a crucial Group A Cable & Wireless World Championship game at 5:15.
Fourth ranked Jamaica completed their dress rehearsal yesterday with an emphatic 85-20 victory over the United States while the Aussies easily got past fifth ranked South Africa 64-37.
Many fans and netball experts see the game as a mock final, Jamaica's coach Maureen Hall will not say so unless it happens.
IT'S CRUNCH TIME
"We'd have to get there first. Jamaica haven't made it so far in my time but we'll be doing the best we can to get there. It's crunch time and I'm reasonably happy and excited going in. I won't be totally happy until we win.
"Our aim for this game is consistency. It is a big step up and will be the most competitive for us to date," she said.
The Jamaicans got a chance to see the Aussies in action again last night and coach Hall said she was impressed with what she saw.
VERY IMPRESSED
"I'm very impressed with Australia. Their game has improved tremendously. They've added variety to their game and they're moving the ball down the court very well," she said.
Australia, meanwhile, are hoping that they do not start like they did against South Africa yesterday.
The world champions won easily, but had a bumpy start and were held goal for goal by the South Africans in the first quarter.
"We had a scrappy start but recognised our mistakes, corrected them and made a turnaround to register another good win. We had a chance to see Jamaica on tape, they look good and this, being a big test for both teams, we are going to give it our best shot.
"It's going to be a great game and it will be very difficult but we're just going to play our game and try to cut down on our errors. I still see it as a three-way race. Jamaica, Australia and New Zealand," said Antipodean coach Jill McIntosh said.
Australia boast an injury-free 12 but Jamaica may be one short as defender Althea Byfield is still recuperating from an ankle injury and will not be available for today's game against the Aussies.
Oberon Pitterson, Georgia Gordon and Kasey Evering along with Nichala Gibson will pilot Jamaica's defence against the world champions.
"It's not likely that Althea will be available but we have excellent players. It was somewhat of a handicap for us (yesterday) because we didn't want our defenders on court for more than two quarters, but it's nothing that will affect our overall performance," Hall said.
A bumper crowd is expected for the encounter. Tickets for this game were sold out from early yesterday.
Squads
Jamaica: Oberon Pitterson (captain), Elaine Davis (vice-captain), Connie Francis, Georgia Gordon, Nadine Bryan, Kasey Evering, Nichala Gibson, Simone Forbes, Althea Byfield, Sharon Wiles, Carla Williams and Tiffannie Wolfe.
Australia: Kathryn Harby-Williams (captain), Liz Ellis (vice-captain), Alison Broadbent, Natasha Chokljat, Catherine Cox, Janine Ilitch, Sharelle McMahon, Cynna Neele, Nicole Richardson, Rebecca Sanders, Peta Scholz and Eloise Southby.
