Top-rated Australia will travel to the World Netball Series (WNS) in England followed by a tour of Jamaica with a strong unit.

Veteran defenders Bianca Chat-field and Mo'onia Gerrard have returned to the World Champions' line-up after missing their recent 3-2 Test series win over arch-rivals New Zealand through injury.

With 64 Test caps between Gerrard and Chatfield, Australia's coach, Norma Plummer, welcomes the pair into the 14-member squad.

"We are delighted to have back some senior players. Chatfield and Gerrard will add experience - a lot of experience," Plummer said.

World No.1 Australia will appear in the October 9-11 WNS in Manchester, England, alongside five of the world's other top-ranked teams - New Zealand, England, Jamaica, Malawi and Samoa - before contesting Test matches against England and Jamaica.

Innovative rule changes

The inaugural WNS is a new-styled tournament, dubbed 'FastNet' competition and will depart from traditional netball, using innovative rule changes that will include rolling substitutions, shooting from outside the goal circle and power plays in games that will be played over four six-minute quarters.

"I will definitely be interested to see how the new concept goes. Six minutes and the quarters are over, so it'll change our whole approach to warm up and how we attack this whole new format," she said.

After the WNS, they are sche-duled to face England on October 13 before travelling to Kingston to tackle World No. 4 Jamaica, on October 17 and 18.

AUSTRALIA SQUAD: Sharelle McMahon (captain), Natalie von Bertouch (vice-captain), Kate Beveridge, Rebecca Bulley, Bianca Chatfield, Catherine Cox, Johannah Curran, Susan Fuhrmann, Mo'onia Gerrard, Kimberlee Green, Renae Hallinan, Natalie Medhurst, Lauren Nourse, Susan Pratley.