The odds are stacked against them, but in a rare outing on home soil, the New Zealand women's soccer team are determined to break an 18-match losing streak against Australia at North Harbour Stadium tonight.
While age group teams have flown the national flag recently, the Football Ferns will play
at home for the first time in almost three years in two tests against Australia. The second test will be at Bill McKinlay Park on Saturday.
The matches will provide both teams with much-needed preparation for international assignments.
The Ferns leave after the second test for a return trip to the Cyprus Cup where they finished fourth a year ago while the Australians have Asian World Cup qualifying games in May.
The Australians have not been beaten by New Zealand since 1994.
The last time they played at home, the Ferns were beaten 3-0 and 5-0 by Canada in 2007.
"Those games didn't go too well but we are a different team now," said captain Hayley Moorwood. "We are quietly confident and out to get a win."
Since those losses to the Canadians, the Ferns have had 1-1 draws against Canada - in a pre-Olympic match in Singapore and at last year's Cyprus Cup.
They can also point to a 2-2 draw with Japan at the Olympics and wins over Argentina and the Netherlands as positive signs.
Moorwood, 26, a veteran of 46 internationals, said the team are keen to show their progress to a home crowd.
"I think it is about showing we are entertaining, we are not a kick-and-chase team," said Moorwood.
"We like to get the ball down and look to play. It is something we have worked on in the last few years."
Australia have included five players who play professionally in Sweden or the US with the rest drawn from the highly-competitive Australian W-League.
NZ v Australia
* North Harbour Stadium, 7 tonight.
* Bill McKinlay Park, Panmure, 3pm Saturday.
* New Zealand (from): Jenny Bindon, Bridgette Armstrong, Anna Green, Abby Erceg, Kristy Hill, Ria Percival, Betsy Hassett, Katie Hoyle, Annalie Longo, Hayley Moorwood, Hannah Wall, Kirsty Yallop, Amber Hearn, Emma Kete, Rosie White, Hannah Wilkinson, Aroon Clansey.
