Tonight's international netball test against Australia will draw maximum effort from the Silver Ferns but Kawakawa's Catherine Latu has more to prove than others.
The goal shoot feels the media have focussed more blame on her than others in the team after their painful 20-point beating at the hands ofthe Aussies less than two weeks ago.
"I seem to be copping a lot of the flak that's out there, it's a team sport but sometimes it doesn't seem that way but maybe that's because I'm outspoken at times," she said.
Her teammates have rallied around her and she said the barbs have come from people who haven't experienced the "select environment" of international netball.
"We're looking to the future and there will be a time where Irene [Van Dyk] and Laura [Langman] won't be around and so we have to try new combinations now and we'll continue to do that," she said.
Latu said they will be trying all out to put the recent match out of their minds when they step out onto the court tonight.
"It's hard to do though and there are definitely some nerves about - we can't forget what happened last time we just have to step up and play a lot better," she said after training yesterday.
Latu got back on court for the Ferns on Monday night after sitting out the first half in their 63-24 victory over South Africa.
With a 21-goal lead at halftime, coach Waimarama Taumaunu introduced several new combinations. The combination of Latu and Jodi Brown did well in the shooting circle after they were slated for their performance against England last week, with Latu slotted 27 goals from 27 attempts.
She is looking forward to getting some revenge against the Aussies but also wants to cement her place in the side - something she has looked forward to doing for some time.
"We've had a long tour and we want to end on a high note, we don't want to feel like we did after the last match so we're ready to settle the scores."
Latu is also looking forward to a break as she won't be needed in during the "Fast Five" series.
"I am so missing my family, I'm really looking forward to coming home and seeing them," she said.
