Proteas shooter confident of Netball World Cup semi-finals

South Africa advanced from the initial stage as runners-up to Jamaica, whom they lost their final Pool C match to on Sunday, and have it all to do in their two remaining second preliminary phase matches against favourites New Zealand and Uganda.

With only the top two sides progressing from the pool, which also includes Jamaica, the hosts simply must beat the defending champions as well as their East African counterparts, which Venter maintains is a real possibility.

"We played Uganda a few times, I'm pretty sure we won't allow what happened at Commonwealth Games against Uganda. The only thing is we have to take game to game," she said,

"New Zealand is next, we have to prep for New Zealand, we've had a good run against them in the Quad Series in England the one year, we lost by a point. I think, with Norma Plummer on our backs, ourselves backing each other, I think we can really bring it to New Zealand", claimed Venter.

Plummer's charges will face the Silver Ferns on Wednesday evening, and Venter believes Uganda's performance is one the Proteas need to try and emulate if they are to overcome the No. 2-ranked team in the world.

"I think Uganda did pretty well against them. So it's definitely a game that we'll go back to and watch. They put up the zone, we know that we'll just have to find a way to figure out to play short and sharp between that zone." 

The 28-year-old, who plies her trade for the Queensland Firebirds in the Australian Suncorp Super Netball league, further highlighted the areas the South Africans will need to be clinical in.

"We can't make silly errors. One: Shooting, from my side. We have to be clinical in our execution, ball placement, passing the ball. If you get a turnover, we have to treasure it. It's those little things that make a big difference." 

Venter has also issued a rallying cry to the local support to get behind the team as they look to outclass Noeline Taurua's charges at 18h00.