After giving up the Constellation Cup last year for the first time in almost a decade, the Diamonds are determined to leave New Zealand with at least one win to set up victory in the netball series on home soil.
The Silver Ferns shocked Australia in early 2021 with a 3-1 series win, although the Diamonds faced a tough preparation that included two weeks of isolation and quarantine in Christchurch due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.
They have arrived in New Zealand ahead of the opening match in Auckland on Wednesday night in much better shape, and with confidence high after winning the Commonwealth Games gold medal in August.
After Auckland, the teams meet in Mount Maunganu before two games in Australia - in Melbourne and a sold-out Test on the Gold Coast.
But as Cup holders, the Silver Ferns only need to win two games of the four-Test tournament to keep the trans-Tasman trophy in their grasp.
Stacey Marinkovich has included debutantes in goaler Sophie Dwyer, defender Ruby Bakewell-Doran, plus midcourt aces Amy Parmenter and Maddy Proud in the Australian squad.
But the coach said that winning back the Constellation Cup was the priority over blooding players ahead of next year's World Cup in South Africa where New Zealand will defend their crown.
"There's no doubt that whenever we step out on court there's a standard of play that we want to reach and we're very aware that we don't have that trophy in our cabinet," Marinkovich told reporters on Tuesday.
"It would be remiss to say that we're coming over (to New Zealand) and testing and trialling; we're doing that but we also have our eyes firmly fixed on the results that we want."
Australia beat Jamaica in the Commonwealth Games final, with New Zealand, who they never met through the competition, relegated to bronze.
While the Diamonds will be without superstar goal attack Gretel Bueta (maternity leave) and veteran defender Ash Brazill (AFLW), the Silver Ferns have been bolstered by the return of captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio after the birth of her second child.
Marinkovich felt the Kiwis always matched up well against her team.
"There will be battles all over the court," Marinkovich said.
"The shooting circle - New Zealand having Ameliaranne back and Grace Nweke is always a threat in there so there will be some good clashes.
"I think the midcourt is going to be fast; I think the way New Zealand are going with dynamic style certainly matches ours very well and then the collective style of defence from them - that's what we haven't come up against for a while so it will be interesting to see how our group adapts to it."
