Fiji Pearls

The other teams confirmed for the series are the Fiji men's team and the USC Thunder from the Queensland Sapphire Series.

Netball Fiji, with the support of the Fiji National Sports Commission, will host the series at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva from March 27-30.

Netball Fiji Chief Executive Officer Vivian Koster said the Series will be crucial for the Pearls ahead of the World Cup.

FBC News reported commission chair Peter Mazey saying a budget had been allocated to hire a new coach after Vicki Wilson's contract expired in July.

Wilson, a former New Zealand assistant coach and one of Australia's greatest players, was welcome to reapply for the role, Mazey said, but the new contract would stipulate the coach lives in Fiji.

As well as leading the national team, the Pearls coach would be required to guide local coaches to higher standards, he said.

The Fiji Pearls are on a four-match winning streak while Samoa won two games before a heavy loss to Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday.

The teams have already met twice this year, with Fiji prevailing during January's Oceania Series and at the Pacific Games in PNG last month.

Coach Kate Carpenter says there aren't many secrets between the two teams.

Captain Mere Rabuka Neiliko was pleased with her team's fighting spirit.

"We knew that they were going to come out firing - like we said earlier, and yes it was physical but then we stood up to that occasion. Because our first aim was the first eight and then we didn't get to that goal so we swim back to saying we haven't finished off yet - got to finish on a high note".

Meanwhile Samoa's two-game winning streak ended with a comprehensive 67-47 defeat by Trinidad and Tobago.

The Pearls finished third in Pool D which puts them alongside Scotland, Sri Lanka and Barbados in the second round, with a match against winless Sri Lanka later today.

Samoa take on Singapore later this morning as they search for an opening win and have also been drawn alongside Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia.

The team had a day off yesterday and goal-shoot Julianna Naoupu says they just want to get better.

Of the nine netball competitions since the start of the Pacific Games Fiji had won six and have remained unbeaten since 1995.

In 2011, netball was not contested so the sport makes a comeback after a lapse of eight years to the Pacific Games.

For the Pearls, the Pacific Games also provide an opportunity to test themselves as they build up for the Netball World Cup.

Vice-captain Maria Lutua said Fiji was going for gold.