Scotland coach relishing Silver Ferns test - watch on BBC

Test series: Scotland v New Zealand

Where: Playsport Arena, East Kilbride When: Sunday, 9 November Time: 16:00 GMT

Coverage: Watch live on iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app

Scottish Thistles head coach Kath Tetley believes the series against the Silver Ferns is perfect preparation for her side before next year's Commonwealth Games.

The Thistles, ranked 10th in the world, have not defeated the Silver Ferns - who are second in the rankings - in any of their previous meetings.

The first of the two matches takes place on Sunday, with the follow up scheduled for Tuesday evening (19:30 GMT), with both matches at Playsport Arena in East Kilbride.

"It's a real privilege and we're grateful to have a chance to test against the best," Tetley told BBC Sport Scotland.

"The Silver Ferns are fierce. Depending on which side of the fence you sit on, some would argue that they're in the hottest form in the world right now.

"It doesn't get any better for us than this because that's the benchmark and we have to make sure we're getting ourselves ready for hosting our home Commonwealth Games next year.

"This is all part of that grand plan of having incredible competition here to really test us."

Tetley, who was previously head coach at GWS Fury in the New South Wales Premier League in her native Australia, is now more than a year into her role as head coach of the Thistles.

She is happy with the depth of competition for places in her squad.

"We've got a squad of 15 for the upcoming two games so it gives us really great flexibility looking at what final 12 we'll put out against each match," she added.

"It is critical to our preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

"The thing that I'm really pleased for Scottish Netball fans is we have a really strong squad who are all pushing for selection."

Following the series against the Silver Ferns, the Thistles will compete in the Celtic Cup later this month.

The Welsh Feathers defeated the Thistles 59-47 in last year's final and the 2025 edition of the event will see an expanded format where six nations will compete at Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

"We've gone from a four-team competition to six, which shows we know how to put on a good show and it's also really good competition for world netball," Tetley said.