Arabic version: مولوني تستعد لتعزيز صفوف دايموندز في كأس الكونستليشن

According to ABC News, Australia vice-captain Kate Moloney is on track to return from a finger injury during the Constellation Cup series against New Zealand. The Melbourne Vixens captain missed the opening Test in Auckland after suffering a finger laceration in the lead-up to the match.

The Diamonds lost the first of the four-Test series 56–50 to the Silver Ferns, despite reducing the margin to six goals in the fourth quarter. Australia had also been without defender Jo Weston, who was managed, and coach Stacey Marinkovich said Moloney’s return was imminent as the team prepared to name its squad on Tuesday night.

“We’ll definitely see her back in the series,” Marinkovich said. She said the injury was “a bit of a nasty laceration” and that Moloney had been able to complete running and movement work while waiting for her finger to heal.

Australia faces another challenge in Christchurch on Wednesday night as it seeks to end a five-year drought on New Zealand soil. Marinkovich said the Diamonds needed greater urgency after being “slightly off our pace” in the opener, while the side also looks for answers against the Silver Ferns’ defensive pairing of Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger. ABC Sport will provide live blog coverage of Game II on October 21.