Scarlett started at goal keep in Thursday's turn-around 59-40 win over Australia in Wellington, levelling the three-test series between the two long-standing rivals after the Diamonds won 48-43 in Adelaide last Sunday.
The third and deciding test for the inaugural Constellation Cup is scheduled for Auckland tomorrow, and Scarlett is hoping to improve on an impressive opening effort in Wellington.
She was part of the gold medal-winning New Zealand outfit which beat Australia in Melbourne in 2006 to take the Commonwealth Games title.
But she retired after missing out on the squad to defend New Zealand's world championship title in 2007 in Auckland., Instead, she teamed up with Susan Blundell to contest the world beach volleyball circuit for the next 2-1/2 years.
Scarlett returned to the netball fray in June this year, showing enough in trials to seal a place in Ruth Aitken's 12-strong squad for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games next month.
She made the most of limited court time against Samoa and Jamaica in August, but really came up trumps in Thursday's thrashing of Australia.
Quick feet and quick hands have always been a Scarlett trademark, but her reading of the game proved a real asset in Wellington.
Somehow arriving in the right place at the right time slightly ahead of the Australian pass, Scarlett showed excellent anticipation and elevation to secure a series of tips and intercepts.
Her job was made so much easier by a superb team defensive effort, as the Silver Ferns shooters and midcourters pressured every Australian pass.
Scarlett gave herself a cautious pass mark from her 45 minutes on court, but is looking to up the ante on Sunday.
"I was a bit nervous -- there were times when I was taking some deep breaths and making sure I wasn't getting over-the-top nervous," she said yesterday.
"I was pretty happy about my performance, from what I've seen of the video, but there were times when I was turned the wrong way, or facing the wrong way, or playing the wrong angles. So there's plenty to improve on."
Scarlett said the speed of the Australian game was a real challenge, but it could -- with practise -- still be anticipated.
"Sometimes you can get the rhythm of where they want it to go, so you can be there before they are, and make them change the pace.
"That's definitely part of the game I love, that's why I'm a defender, because I love figuring out what they want to do, then I stop them!"
Thursday's result was a satisfying one, but Scarlett said there was still a lot of work to be done, both for Sunday's decider and for the Commonwealth Games.
"There's still a lot to be learnt -- you've got to take the positives and the good feelings, but we'll definitely be looking at the stuff we can improve on."
