The Silver Ferns must prove they aren't "one-hit wonders" by beating Australia for the second straight test on Thursday in Wellington.
That's the assertion of defender Katrina Grant, after New Zealand ended their nine-game losing streak against the Diamonds with a 55-44 win in game three of the Constellation Cup in Hamilton last Sunday.
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That win marked new coach Noeline Taurua's first win over a side ranked higher than the Ferns and just the second in seven games, since taking the reins last month.
Australia comfortably beat New Zealand in the opening two games of the series by 15 and nine goals respectively.
The turnaround in Hamilton provided a nice surprise for fans, but for Grant, it's an indication that their hard work is starting to pay off.
She told Newshub they must back it up in the final game of the series.
"We want to put a good performance out there, we don't want to be one-hit wonders," Grant said.
"We want to play well and we want to end the year on a high.
"We have to win by 15 goals to claim the Constellation Cup, but for us, at the moment, it's about putting a performance out on court, and making sure we don't go away from our gameplan and our processes that we have worked so hard on.
"We have been building and building. We put a good performance together, but I think we will need to put even more in to get Aussie when they are hurting."
The “hurting” Australians were noticeably upset after the third test, with coach Lisa Alexander calling a few of her players out for not stepping up, while also questioning a lopsided penalty count that favoured the Kiwis..
There aren't too many secrets in modern sport and Grant had heard the Australians had a few spicy training sessions in the build-up to the series decider.
The former New Zealand skipper expects a ferocious response from their trans-Tasman rivals on Thursday night.
"We know they are going bounce back pretty darn hard," Grant said.
"We have been hearing a few things that are going on in their camp through a few whispers and we know they are not very happy.
"No-one likes to lose in any way."
Grant has been extremely impressed by what Taurua has brought into a side that was at its lowest point in three decades, after a disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign that resulted in the Ferns coming home without a medal.
While Grant acknowledged they were nowhere near the finished article, she told Newshub that Taurua's ability as a coach was unrivalled.
"She sees something on the court - she can put that in her mind and then the way she articulates that back to you through a drill on how you can combat what is happening is really impressive.
"I don't think there are too many coaches who can do that.
"When you can understand something so well and be given the tools to put that back on court is really good to see.
"She has us training to win. The amount of pressure we are putting on each other to make each other better as individuals is making us a better team.
"I think you have been able to see that, in each and every game we have played, it's coming together.
"The intensity has stepped up and that game fitness is looking a lot better as well. When you start to put all those things together, then wins are going to happen."
Australia will retain the Constellation Cup, if the Ferns fail to win by 15 goals.
Newshub.
Join us at 7:45pm Thursday for live updates of the Silver Ferns vs Australia.
