Jamaica's netballer Romelda Aiken practises shooting during a training session at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre netball facility, before they played a practice game against Northern Ireland on Tuesday. The Sunshine Girls won 71-41. Glasgow 2014. - Ricardo Makyn

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

GLASGOW, Scotland:

Jamaica's Sunshine Girls held their final training session yesterday afternoon in high spirits, as they chase history in today's Commonwealth Games semi-final against world leaders Australia at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre at 12:15 p.m. (6:15 a.m. Jamaica time).

The Jamaicans have never won a semi-final game at the Commonwealth Games and have only medalled once in the four stagings of the event at the multi-discipline championships, a bronze medal in 2002 in Manchester, England.

Loss to New Zealand

Still, coming off their 42-50 loss to number two - ranked New Zealand on Wednesday, coach Minneth Reynolds says the girls can hardly wait to step on court and are determined to challenge history against the mighty Australians, who won the first two gold medals handed out for netball at the Commonwealth Games in 1998 and 2002, but have finished second to New Zealand since, having played in every final.

"It's time for a change, we have been playing in the semis for the longest time. This time, we want to take it further. They have recognised that, as a group, it's up to them. We have spoken about it. This time around, there can be no turning back, we have to play right through to the very end of the game," Reynolds said.

"The spirit in the team is great, it's quite high. The girls are really looking forward to the semi-final match, and they are planning to win that match. The confidence level is very high throughout the entire team, and we all believe we can win this game," Reynolds added.

However, the coach admitted that the team will have to limit their errors and contain centre Kimberley Ravaillion and wing attack Madi Robinson, if they are to have success today.

"We need to be patient whenever we have the ball in our hands, we don't need to be in any rush to get it to the shooters, it will come once we are patient. We need to work on our concentration as well. Once we lose focus, that is when we start the turnovers, so we need to really work on staying focused," said Reynolds, before summing up the Diamonds.

"Australia play more man-to-man and that gives a lot more space. Australia play a more open game so we are better able to move the ball around the court accurately and smoothly," said Reynolds comparing Australia's defensive scheme to New Zealand's zonal system.

"In offence, they (Australia) work the ball around. The centre and the wing attack are the ones who feed the team a lot, and we have to deny them and play one-on-one with the shooters. If we are able to stop those feeders, then I guarantee we will stop them, but, if not, we will be in big trouble," Reynolds warns.

The Jamaicans have not been the most effective with the ball in hand, committing 82 turnovers since the start of the tournament. They can, however, console themselves with the fact that today's opponents have been even more wasteful, with 92 match-play errors in their five games. Jamaica's 94 turnovers are actually dwarfed by Australia's 129.