The Australian Diamonds will head into today’s opening Constellation Cup clash against New Zealand riding a wave of confidence, holding every netball trophy in the past 18 months.
But for New Zealand, it’s almost the opposite after struggling in the Commonwealth Games and then finishing without a medal for the first time in the nation’s history at the World Cup in August.
Australian coach Stacey Marinkovich isn’t taking the Silver Ferns’ lightly, despite the nation’s worst-ever fourth place result.
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STARTING SEVEN
Australia: GS Koenen, GA Austin, WA Watson (c), C Hadley, WD Price, GD Weston, GK Bruce
New Zealand: GS Walmsley, GA Ekenasio (c), WA Buchanan, C Gordon, WD Heffernan, GD Karaka, GK Jury
“There’s a real fire for the contest when it comes to going for the ball and who can get the dominance of their brand first,” she told Fox Netball.
“New Zealand will slow the play down and certainly try to take the space of the court – we like to run hard and play direct.
“It’s complete opposites in what we are trying to get from each other.”
Diamonds reinstated as World Champions | 03:09
New Zealand meantime will look to take confidence from their recent series win over England in the Taini Jamison Trophy – despite the Roses sending a squad with no player from their silver medal finish.
“We’ve got a young team, so I think we should expect a lot of energy,’’ Ekenasio said to reporters in Melbourne on Wednesday.
“These are always really big games for us any time we’re playing Australia, and obviously it’s always been good clashes, there’s a lot of rivalry, there’s a lot of emotion, so I think you can definitely expect that.
“I think this game will set the tone, will set the benchmark, for how the rest of the series will play out, as well.’’
The Kiwis are still without star goal shooter Grace Nweke who hasn’t featured since injuring her knee in the World Cup pool games.
England knock out defending champs NZ | 00:52
There is hope Nweke will be fit for the New Zealand leg of the series starting next Thursday.
This match gets underway at 7.30pm AEDT from John Cain Arena.
Watch it live on Foxtel channel 505 from 5pm AEDT.
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