Tomorrow night's New Zealand-Australia clash at Arena Manawatu is the first time the two sides have met since the Silver Ferns' epic 66-64 double extra time win over the Diamonds at last year's New Delhi Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken talks about reconnecting as a group, re-establishing the links and understandings that saw them secure the clutch gold medal win over Australia last October.
Australian mentor Norma Plummer emphasises the importance of building combinations as she looks to blend her three newcomers - Erin Bell, Sharni Layton and Chelsea Pitman - into a side boasting experience and talent from one end of the court to the other.
Both are adamant that while winning remains a priority, it is not the sole arbiter of success in the two-test series which ends in Auckland on Sunday.
Next month's world championship in Singapore looms large on the horizon and, with only these two tests for fine-tuning, both coaches are looking to make the most of the on-court time available.
"Two tests is probably a little bit short to get everything done that we want to, without playing musical bibs," Aitken said today.
"We'll just work out how many things we can change within the space we've got."
Aitken and Plummer are both in agreement as to the defensive strengths of both teams, although the Australian coach couldn't resist a dig at some possible shortcomings in the Ferns' attacking line.
New Zealand's appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on former Samoan shooter Cathrine Latu's eligibility to play for the Silver Ferns in Singapore was turned down in April.
"I think the Ferns would have liked to have had Latu there," Plummer said today.
"I think they've got their worries about whether their forward line's as strong as what they think it is.
"I think both strengths of the teams are in their back end -- both teams have the quality of athletes back there."
Heading the New Zealanders' defensive line is captain and goal keep Casey Williams, although her inclusion in the starting seven tomorrow is under something of a cloud, Aitken admitted.
"Casey's got a bit of a calf strain at the moment, just a little one. She's back to weight-bearing and is progressing really well, but we'll have to see how she is in the morning as to whether she gets to play.
"We'll give her a run in the morning and see how's she's going as to whether or not she's available," Aitken said.
"As you'd imagine at the moment, we're keen on the big picture so we'll make sure she dots the i's and crosses the t's before she's able to play against Australia."
Goal attack Maria Tutaia, a key player in New Zealand's New Delhi victory, was sporting a heavily bandaged thigh in training today, but Aitken said that was merely a bit of extra protection for an earlier quad strain.
Both Aitken and Plummer played down any idea of gaining a psychological edge from the upcoming tests going into the world championship.
"There may be, but I think it will be short-lived," Aitken said.
"The reality is when we go to worlds, on any given day anything can happen. That's the only thing that's consistent about Australia playing New Zealand - you actually can't predict it."
