Russell, who has 65 caps and made her debut in 2008 as a 29-year-old, says hockey is a game people can play up to masters level.
With her two elder sisters playing hockey, Russell first found traction as a goal keeper while attending intermediate school.
"I took it to it naturally and they wouldn't let me out after that," she says from the team hotel at Ahuriri, Napier, when asked why she's playing in a position where she takes more hits than a tequila bar and looks more like a candidate dressed up for a role in a Sci-Fi movies.
"It's a deep-set desire to be unbeaten in a cage. I relish the challenge," says the employee of security installation firm Secon Guardall who still enjoys playing at a social level when not on tour.
She dispels any perceptions out there that it can become tedious thwarting missiles for an hour on an astroturf.
If anything, they are "error" minders who endeavour to stop any rot setting in, albeit sometimes in lost causes.
"Goalkeepers are the eyes on the back of the heads of defenders," she says, emphasising they possess a different skills set.
The buck does stop with them but before it does keepers engage in the ritual of organising pivotal positions for the defenders and open lines of communication.
Some choice words are exchanged but there's no room for expletives.
Russell grasped the gravity of that in her debut season in a match against Argentina in Whangarei.
TV coverage was at its infancy here and unbeknown to the Black Stick a microphone was discreetly planted in her wired domain.
"I was having a shocker, as everyone does, so I let rip a few words at myself," she says. "I received a firm warning from the video staff to be careful so so it was a lesson well learned."
That is not to say the Black Sticks are shy about keeping each other honest at the height of competition.
"Everyone has the right to demand top performances from those around them but we use voice tone to convey urgency.
"The information must be clear, concise and direct," she says although appreciative that if the defenders do their jobs with aplomb than her task becomes easier.
Individualism gives way for a collective effort on the foundation of myriad skills.
Russell didn't play in any of the warm-up tests against South Korea and China before arriving here, after a collision to the head with a teammate in a defenders versus attackers drill.
However, she preaches patience when coach Mark Hager and his selectors inject young blood.
The other goalkeepers in the Kiwi squad are 55-cap Sally Rutherford, 32, of Waikato, and young gun Amelia Gisbon.
Russell highlights the need for elite tournaments, such as the Six Nations, to ensure a geographically isolated New Zealand expose their budding internationals to quality oppositions.
"We have to build depth in our squad. With the number of injuries we've been having it proves that point.
"It's fantastic to see young blood coming through."
Capitalising on the buzz to expand the tourney to an eight-nation one and a recurring fixture are imperative in pushing hockey into a global arena.
"Oceania is a more lower profile of the world, drowned by rugby, cricket and whatever else is the flavour of the day."
With a gulf in age between her and her elder sisters, Russell looked up to her siblings for inspiration.
One flirted with goalkeeping while the other was a field player.
"I used to think they were great but I now realise they were just regular players but they were older than me so they help set the pathway because I wanted to be just like them."
Unlike the South Koreans, the former Carmel College pupil says there's definitely no dosh in the sport.
"Oh I haven't had any illusions about that."
Retired Kiwi hockey international and Taumarunui-born Tina Bell-Kake gave her a timely fillip when she was a fifth-former.
"Her delivery message was along the lines of how the New Zealand team was a realistic opportunity if anyone desired.
"It is a good set and a hell of a lot of practices," Russell reveals.
She now finds herself slipping on the turf shoes to spread the gospel according to Bell-Kake when she visits primary schools.
No doubt she is indebted to her employers for their flexibility in working hours to enable her to be away with the team abroad for a good time of the year.
A gold medallist in the 2011 Championship Trophy in Amstelveen, The Netherlands, and a bronze one in the 2009 Champions Challenge in Cape Town, South Africa, Russell relished the time at home in the build up to the 2012 London Olympics where they had to contend with the heartache of missing out on a medal.
"I couldn't do it without mum's home-cook food," says the player who lives by herself.
Her affinity with others in the hockey fraternity, especially in the New Zealand community, is something she will treasure forever.
Russell believes the No5 world-ranked Black Sticks have a good chance of claiming the title in the Six Nations against the higher ranked No 2 Argentina and No 4 Australia.
"We have the home crowd but Argentina, yes, and Australia will be very difficult.
"The reality is every team is in the top 10 so there won't be any easy games."
Hockey has evolved dramatically, she informs fans.
"It's the most dynamic game and a completely new breed on an astroturf.
"If you haven't seen a game for a while then you'll find it refreshing to watch international athletes in action."
Anita Punt is on track to play her 150th test today and Krystal Forgesson her 200th tomorrow.
If Emily Naylor, of Raukawa, runs on to the turf for every game in this tourney, the defender will eclipse retired Wellingtonian Suzie Muirhead's record of 238 tests as the most-capped New Zealand player of all time on Saturday, April 12.
