The Australian netball coach Lisa Alexander says their last up loss to the Silver Ferns has certainly got them focussed ahead of the Constellation Cup series.
Australia netball coach Lisa Alexander. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The series starts in Auckland on Thursday with the Ferns holding some bragging rights after their 10-goal win over their rivals in the Quad Series decider in Invercargil last month.
Alexander says that loss did get the right reaction out of her players.
"It's definitely wounded us, we certainly don't like losing and from our point of view we didn't play to our potential in that match and that's probably the most disappointing part."
"Certainly the Silver Ferns played extremely well and we've got some things that we've looked at and hopefully we'll be able to counteract those on Thursday night."
One of the key players for the Ferns in the Quad Series was defender Kelly Jury who was able to disrupt a lot of ball for Australian shooter Caitlin Bassett.
"Certainly she (Jury) is someone we need to be wary about in terms of making sure we don't put the ball in her way, but we've got some other things in place and plan for how to counteract Kelly as well."
"There are things that we need to be doing and playing smart and make sure we don't give her many opportunities to get ball as she did in that previous test."
Alexander says she intends to use a number of combinations in this series that will see them through to the Commonwealth Games in April.
The second game is in Christchurch on Sunday before the series moves to Australia next week for games in Adelaide and Sydney.
-RNZ
