Australia's Mo'onia Gerrard (left) and Natalie von Bertouch in action in the Diamonds' 97-22 win over Sri Lanka in their final pool match at the world championships. Source: AP
AUSTRALIAN captain Natalie von Bertouch has declared the Diamonds happy, excited and "ready to rock'' as they head into their quarter-final clash of the world netball championships against Malawi tonight.
But von Bertouch said it is crucial she and her team-mates continue to improve each time they take the court to increase their chances of winning the event when the tournament concludes on Sunday.
"Everytime we go out we have to built,'' said von Bertouch, elevated to the top job following injury to Sharelle
Mcmahon during the trans-Tasman league. "We have to use the opportunity to get better.''
The Diamonds are expected to tonight cruise through their quarter-final to set up a semi-final clash with Jamaica on Saturday.
They then hope to advance into Sunday's final with a win over the side boasting top sharpshooter Romelda Aiken, a player well know to Australian fans due to her years of playing as an import with the Queensland Firebirds.
" I think they are going to be really tough to beat,'' von Bertouch said. "Looking at them and how we played them in January, although we have a different side, we won one, lost one and drew one.
"It shows how well they are doing.''
But von Bertouch remains confident selectors have assembled a group of players capable of winning a 10th world crown on Sunday despite the absence of injured veteran Sharelle McMahon and centre-court pivot Lauren Nourse.
In tonight's other quarter-final encounters, Commonwealth Games champions New Zealand will take on South Africa, Jamaica will play Trinidad and Tobago and England will face off against England.
If results go as expected Australia will meet Jamaica in one semi-final on Saturday and New Zealand and England will fight it out in the other.
