There are bigger fish to fry when the teams contest the World Championships in Singapore next month. But Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken does not have that luxury. She has to find a way to get her side to peak twice.
It is unique challenge. Both sides will want immediate results but neither will want to concede an inch a month out from the game's biggest stage.
"It is hard," Aitken acknowledged. "But we see it as a real benefit to actually be able to try some things against a great side like Australia. For us, it is about getting re-established and making sure the basics get done well. I doubt you will see too much tricky stuff . . . we just want to get some good structure on attack and some good pressure on defence."
The tactic of keeping an ace up the sleeve for when it is really need is pretty much flawed these days. The New Zealand and Australian players know each other's game so well. They see each other week in and week out in the ANZ Championship.
"In the end it is still about being able to execute under pressure," Aitken said. "In that respect, it is a simple game. So I don't see how we will come out with any massive surprises come the World Champs."
Aitken simulates pressure situations in training by adding extra players to the defence or by reducing the time available. That helps promote good decision-making but "experience really does prove to be invaluable".
In the past, the Silver Ferns have struggled to close tight matches and have, perhaps unfairly, been labelled chokers. But the extra-time win over Australia in the gold medal match at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi last year has helped build some belief in the camp.
"The perception was that when we got in to those sort of games, we lacked the final push which was needed and were found wanting. But I think we've laid that to rest because it was such a good game for us to come through on.
"Both teams played incredibly well and we were still lucky to win. It could have gone either way. But it has given us confidence in our preparation and, I suppose, mental fortitude."
The other element working in the Silver Ferns' favour will be the absence of Sharelle McMahon. The classy goal shoot has played 118 games since her debut in 1998 but ruptured her Achilles in March.
"She brought such athleticism into the shooting circle and it has always been a battle coming up against her. She just pops up at the most inappropriate times as far as we are concerned. She will definitely be a loss for Australia but there was a bit of a changing of the guard anyway with Natalie Medhurst taking over that No 1 goal attack mantle.
"So Australia will cope without her, and they have so much depth that when someone falls over there are two or three waiting to take their place."
After 10 years in the role, Aitken said she still loves her job and had not given any thought to her future in the international game. Her contract is up at the end of September and after the World Championships she plans to sit down with family and Netball New Zealand to "look at where to go from here".
NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA
• June 9, Palmerston North
• June 12, Auckland
