WORLD netball champions Australia will be jetting over to Wales before the Commonwealth Games to fine tune their skills at the Welsh Institute of Sport in Cardiff.

The Sports Council for Wales are working with the Welsh Netball Association to provide the opportunity for the world No.1 team to stay and train at the institute for a week prior the big event in Manchester (July 15-21).

Australian national coach Jill McIntosh was very impressed with the conditions and facilities on offer in Cardiff when she came over in 2000 for the World Youth Netball Championship. The Welsh Netball Association and the Australian team kept in touch and as a result, will be preparing in Cardiff before the competition begins.

Welsh national coach Raewyn Henry says: "It's a great boost for netball in Wales. They are the best netball team in the world and are going to be staying over here before the Commonwealths. As well as the senior squad, the Australian Institute of Sport team will also be coming over to assist with Australia's and Wales' preparation.

"There will be a number of opportunities for players, coaches, umpires and spectators to view the Australian and Australia teams in training sessions and practice games and we're also going to hold development workshops."

The Australian team have won eight out of the 10 world championships held since 1963. The next championships will be held in Jamaica in 2003 and Wales will be looking to finish in a good position.

In the Commonwealths, Wales has been drawn in Pool A against New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka and Canada. Pool B consists of Australia, South Africa, Jamaica, Barbados and Fiji.