Netball fans in the Bay of Plenty have been left disappointed this week with news of the Silver Ferns planned trip to Tauranga being moved.

The Silver Ferns were due to take on the Australian Diamonds at Trustpower Baypark Arena on Saturday, March 6, and Sunday, March 7.

However, due to problems arising from the recent change in Covid-19 alert level, the Silver Ferns will now play all four of their Constellation Cup test series games in Christchurch.

But as Silver Ferns assistant Debbie Fuller points out, there is still plenty of opportunity to see top international class players in the Bay of Plenty coming up.

The Splice Construction Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic get their ANZ Premiership season underway in April.

Two of the stars of this week's international clash are Caitlin Bassett of Australia and Samantha Winders of New Zealand.

The pair will be competing on the international front this week. However, two-time Netball World Cup winner Bassett has joined the Magic for the 2021 season, becoming the first current Australian international to play in New Zealand's ANZ Premiership.

'The Magic are our home team so if you can't see them in the black dress they will be able to see them in the Magic dress,” says Fuller.

'The Australian captain Caitlin Bassett is now shooting for Magic.”

Fuller went on to praise the Magic's own captain.

'Sammy Winders is the captain and a Rotorua girl,” says Fuller.

'What that shows is that Sam is someone that has come from the Bay made it to international netball and has established herself as the Magic captain.

'She's a wonderful role model and an absolutely gutsy determined young athlete. With her and Caitlin, Magic will have their international standard this season.”

For now, international netball is off the table for Tauranga. But with world-class talent on show with the Magic this season fans will hopefully not have to wait long for international caliber netball in the Bay of Plenty.

The Magic get their ANZ Premiership season underway against Northern Mystics in Auckland on Sunday, April 18.

The first game in Tauranga will see the Magic take on the Northern Stars on Sunday, May 2.

Fans will hopefully be in attendance, dependent on Covid-19 regulations.