Livingston Scott, STAR Writer

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls left the island last Thursday for the 2015 Netball World Cup in Australia on a mission to bring home the gold medal for the first time in the country's history.

The squad has undergone intense preparations under former Australian coach Jill McIntosh and will open their account on Friday against Samoa.

Experienced coaches Winston Nevers and Oberon Pitterson-Nattie have predicted that the Girls will medal, but admitted that there are a few weaknesses in the team.

Former national coach and coach of many-time national champions Jamalco, Winston Nevers, praised the preparation, but predicted that the team will return home with bronze.

"I think the girls are very fit. However, I don't think they will take the gold or the silver, I think they will have to settle for the bronze. I don't think we prepared our mid-court well. Australia and New Zealand have same amount of skill in mid-court, but they have added height all-round. They have height in defence, mid-court and attack. We have height in defence, no height in mid-court and height in shooting, and that is where I think we will have problems getting the ball to our shooters," Nevers said.

Former national player and coach, Oberon Pitterson-Nattie, agreed that the mid-court could do with more height, but pointed that Jamaica has always succeeded with short mid-court players, however, the depth of the team is her real concern.

"Australia are the team to watch. All their players play in the ANZ and they have been steady and consistent, so they get the edge," she stated.

"Jamaica stand as good, a chance as any, but it's how they perform on the day when they play the semis. We have to come at your best we can't depend on the other team to not play well.

"The attack is very good, but the defence might be a bit vulnerable. I don't think the depth is there," she said.

"We have always played with a short mid-court and be successful, it's just the depth who comes in, and where they come in, to give the team the punch they need at that point. But I don't see any reason we shouldn't medal," she commented.