Following a hollow series against Jamaica, a hotly contested Constellation Cup against Australia is badly needed and could be on the cards for the Silver Ferns.
Silver Ferns' captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The four Test Constellation Cup series starts next Wednesday with the first two tests in New Zealand before the series heads across the Tasman.
It will be three years since the Silver Ferns played the Diamonds in Australia and one of the venues has already sold out.
Silver Ferns' coach Dame Noeline Taurua said it was important players experienced the cauldron of playing on Australian soil.
"I love playing Australia, this is what it's all about, Constellation Cup is nearly like a pinnacle event for us, behind the Netball World Cup and Commonwealth Games.
"Also this current crop of players, apart from probably Ameliaranne [Ekenasio] haven't actually secured a starting seven position and played them back to back so there's a lot riding on this Constellation Cup for us leading into Netball World Cup and our competitive edge over Australia," Dame Noeline said.
The last meeting between the two long-time rivals was in January's Quad Series in England, with the Diamonds coming out on top 53-39.
The Diamonds, who won gold at July's Commonwealth Games, will be favourites but it could come down to the wire.
With Ekenasio back in the Silver Ferns, Grace Nweke growing in confidence, and the Diamonds without match winner Gretel Bueta due to pregnancy, there should be more of a levelling out between the arch rivals.
"I think it's going to be a fantastic series for us and a lot of our current players haven't actually played against Diamonds back to back. We've got a new generation of players coming through but also experienced campaigners.
"There's new combinations that are starting to form but also we've got to be able to cement that and the only way that you can do that is against a quality side which Australia presents.
"We're still really green in some aspects, like two weeks ago it was Grace's second or third full test against Jamaica but the only way that we're going to grow and develop is playing against Australia so really excited, I can't wait and it's going to be a boomer."
Dame Noeline has always said the door was open for players in the Silver Ferns' development squad to get opportunities and more midcourters will push their case ahead of the World Cup.
Veteran midcourter Gina Crampton is on sabbatical until the end of the year and Shannon Saunders is pregnant, opening up opportunities for Maddy Gordon and Mila Reuelu-Buchanan in the recent series against Jamaica.
The pair have been retained for two Tests each but Dame Noeline has added Kimiora Poi (Australian leg) and Peta Toeava (New Zealand leg) in the side.
Kimiora Poi Photo: PHOTOSPORT
They've been on the outer for a while. Toeava's last Test for New Zealand was against England over a year ago.
Poi was also injected in the final game of that series against the Roses but hasn't been seen since.
Dame Noeline said opportunities had been presented to players who were ready and had also done a lot of work behind the scenes.
"One of the great things is that we're starting to build depth both in defence once Karin [Burger] and Jane [Watson] come back, we've got more fire power there but also the depth that's currently being built in the midcourt so really excited to actually see them both out on court."
So what does Dame Noeline want to see from them?
"It's an opportunity for them to own that bib and knowing against Australia it's going to be torrid. The biggest thing is to be able to feed but also repeated efforts.
"So with that man on man style you've got to be able to work really hard all the time for the duration of the game so for both of them that's going to be a real key piece going into the matches and our ability to feed our in-circle.
"Playing Australia in Australia is like next level so the challenge would be for a Maddy, an Elle [Temu], or a Kimiora to be able to meet that challenge, knowing it's going to be ruthless out there."
Fans will be craving a classic battle between the traditional rivals after a severely depleted Jamaica arrived in New Zealand for the recent Taini Jamison series, which turned into a complete flop.
The Silver Ferns last played for the Constellation Cup in March 2021 when the hosts won three of four Tests played in Christchurch, ending a nine-year drought in the trans-Tasman rivalry.
The only loss in that series came when Ameliaranne Ekenasio was rested while she nursed an injury niggle.
Australia still dangerous without Bueta
The Silver Ferns coach doesn't mind admitting it's a relief she won't have to worry about Australia's superstar shooter Gretel Bueta for a while.
Bueta, who played a staring role at the Commonwealth Games, yesterday announced she's expecting her second child and has withdrawn from the Constellation Cup.
Bueta will also sit out next year's Super Netball campaign in Australia, making it highly unlikely she will be at next year's World Cup in July.
No doubt Dame Noeline would have spent some time thinking about how best to defend the elusive shooter after the English defenders had no answers for her in Birmingham.
Jamaica too, despite being the best team defensively in Birmingham, struggled to stop her when they lost to Australia in the final.
"It's great news for her and her family and women in high performance sport it's such a blessing.
"But I am a bit mean I suppose in thinking 'thank goodness' she's such a massive firepower for Diamonds and she showed her prowess at Commonwealth Games, how she led that end and is so hard to stop so we will take that as we have with our mummies that we've had in our team. And it's the opportunity once again for us to shine."
But Dame Noeline said what made the Diamonds so good was their depth.
Gretel Bueta of Australia New Zealand Silver Ferns v Australia Diamonds at Copper Box Arena, London, England on Saturday 15th January 2022. International Quad Netball Series. Copyright photo: Matthew Impey / www.photosport.nz Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2022 www.photosport.nz
"What we know is when one comes out, another one comes in for Diamonds, that's why they're so good."
The four other shooters named for the series are experienced goal attack Steph Wood, Cara Koenen - who played a big hand in the Birmingham final, and Kiera Austin.
Long range shooter Sophie Dwyer could make her debut during the series.
"You've still got the shooting accuracy, you've got the rotating circle, you've got the speed and their ability to work with each other.
"There's still going to be a lot of power in there and I think once again as it was for us, it gives the opportunity for those others to secure a starting berth but also for them to get out on court to shine so a lot comes with that and it's all on."
Despite being 29, Bueta hasn't been on the international scene for that long.
The former basketballer had a late start in netball and took time out to have her first child.
"She's still new within the scene and only over the last couple of years she's been able to secure her starting seven position that's probably shown in her maturity and game as well, Dame Noeline said.
"She came into her own and I wouldn't be surprised if she comes back in fast as well after her second birth. She's such an athlete ...she's such a beast for us and it shows her athleticism and it highlights our sport and that's all good for everybody."
