Silver Ferns Prepare for Final Oceania Series Match Against Fiji

The Silver Ferns will face a buoyant Fiji Pearls side in Suva tonight after the home side recorded a thrilling two goal win over Samoa at Vodafone Arena on Wednesday.

Focus and intensity has been a key work-on in this inaugural Oceania Series for the Silver Ferns, and the team are expecting to face a fired-up Fiji side in their second encounter this week.

The Ferns defeated Fiji on Monday 81-28, but Fiji are expected to turn up the heat and come out hungry in front of their home crowd, a performance worthy of their number seven world ranking.

The hot and humid conditions have been challenging for the Silver Ferns, not used to playing in those types of temperatures, a stark contrast to their international test matches in the UK one year ago where they played as far north as Scotland with snow on the ground.

While the Ferns team enjoyed some downtime on their day off yesterday, coach Waimarama Taumaunu put the team through their paces with an early morning fitness session, before enjoying afternoon tea at the residence of the New Zealand High Commissioner.

After tonight’s match, the team head back to New Zealand tomorrow and will be released to their ANZ Championship sides ahead of the Pre-Season Summer Shootout tournament in Sydney over Waitangi Weekend.

Silver Ferns v Fiji Pearls, LIVE on SKY Sport 1 tonight from 7.30opm