Many believe it will be England, coach Lisa Alexander has declared it’s still New Zealand.

But Liz Ellis is tipping Jamaica to be the biggest threat to Australia’s Netball World Cup title defence which gets underway in Sydney on Friday.

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Ellis, Australia’s most-capped player of all time, says if any team is going to outshine the top-ranked Diamonds on their home soil it could be the Sunshine Girls.

Ellis points to prolific goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and experienced goal attack Sasher Gaye Henry as potent weapons for the fourth-ranked side.

More crucially though, she’s expects an increase in on-court discipline thanks to the return of former Australian coach Jill Mcintosh last year as technical director.

“They’re magnificent athletes with the ability to move the ball, but in years gone by they just haven’t had that presence of mind just to stay focused when things got tough,” Ellis said.

“Jill McIntosh has been working with them, and one of the things she is very strong on is on-court discipline.

“If they’ve got that to the degree that I’m hearing then I think they’re going to be pretty tough to beat.

“And I don’t think too many people have considered them.”

Talk that world No.3 England could overtake second-ranked New Zealand has been about as the Silver Ferns prepare to field a new-look side.

England lost to both Australia and Zealand by a single point at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but Ellis indicated England’s success may hinge on the form of captain and star defender Geva Mentor.

“She (Mentor) was simply outstanding last year, but she’s had a pretty quiet season,” she said.

“Unless she turns her form around I don’t know that England are going to be the threat everyone maintains they’ll be.

“Having said that, I think Joanne Harten at goal shooter is a huge presence for them … she may very well keep them in games.”

The Kiwis are sporting a line-up markedly different from the one that lost the Commonwealth Games gold medal match to Australia.

Ellis praised the Silver Ferns’ defensive strength and flagged potential in their more mobile attack devoid of its traditional holding shooter.

But she questioned whether Bailey Mes and “X-Factor” Malia Paseka could deliver under the pressure of top teams, if veteran goal attack Maria Tutaia wasn’t firing.

“I don’t know whether New Zealand have got a goal shooter who is a big-game player.

“If Maria Tutaia is having an off game, I don’t know that they’ve got a goal shooter who can step up and bag a heap of goals.”

– AAP