But, for now, Otago coach Lauren Piebenga is relaxed. She is working with a group of players who are well versed in winning and who hate losing.
They are also fresh from a run against the Silver Ferns earlier this month. With that said, the challenge ahead is still daunting.
Otago won the national championship last year for the first time since 1998. The pressure is on to defend the title. As luck would have it, that defence will be at home in Dunedin.
The championships were initially awarded to Invercargill but delays in rebuilding Stadium Southland resulted in the tournament being shifted north to Dunedin.
The format has changed from a two-division structure to a more traditional system in which the 12 competing teams have been grouped into two pools of six.
''The draw is really cut-throat, so there is not a whole lot of room for a bad game,'' Piebenga said.
''Only the top two from each pool will go through, so if you muck up, there is the possibility of not making it.
''And we've got Canterbury in our pool, and they will be a tough team to overcome.''
Otago's preparation for the tournament, which begins on September 30, has been mixed.
The entire squad is yet to come together, as defender Storm Purvis and shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit have taken the opportunity to have a holiday after helping the New Zealand under-21 team win gold at the world youth championships in Glasgow three weeks ago.
But Otago did play a small part in helping the Silver Ferns win game one of the Constellation Cup. The province provided some stout opposition during a training session a day before the game.
''We gave them the preparation they needed,'' Piebenga joked, referring to the Silver Ferns' 55-51 win over Australia in the opening test in Invercargill.
''That was fantastic and a really good opportunity for us.''
Piebenga's young defensive end ''stood up'' against the likes of Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia.
''Celina Ledgard was exceptional. I think she pulled in three consecutive intercepts. They are just gutsy and nuggety. They don't have any big reputations to protect.''
Piebenga is in that mould herself. The 35-year-old, who teaches geology and social studies at Columba College and is married with two children, does not have the sort of playing background some would consider a prerequisite for elite-level coaching.
A midcourter or goal attack, she played club netball in Queenstown and in Christchurch. She also represented Golden Bay but played it down as ''no great feat''.
Too often, people who have not played the game at the top level are starved of coaching opportunities. Somehow Piebenga, who was born in Mosgiel but grew up in Queenstown, cut through the prejudice and has proven her worth.
In three years as coach of the Otago under-21 side, she delivered two national titles. She also assisted former Otago coach Deb Tasi-Cordtz for the past three years, including last season's successful national championship campaign.
It is an impressive record. Piebenga has got into the habit of winning, as have so many of the players she has helped mentor.
Selby-Rickit, Olivia Bates, Gina Crampton and Miaana Walden were part of both successful campaigns.
Wing defence Stacey Peeters was also part of both sides but is unavailable because of a niggly shoulder injury.
Defender Zoe Walker enjoyed dual success with Otago too, but has transferred to Canterbury. Purvis did not play for the under-21 campaign but was a key player in the Otago team.
Otago really does have a strong core of players who know how to win.
