KEY POINTS:
The great Irene van Dyk-Liz Ellis showdown will once again hold the key to who goes into the world netball championships as psychological top dogs.
For seven years, the confrontation between the Ferns shooter and the Australian defender - both world leaders in their positions - has been
the highlight of transtasman tests.
And now that van Dyk has upped her performance, this three-test series - the last international hit-out for both sides before November's world champs - will be no different reckons upfront Australian coach Norma Plummer.
When asked what area of court would be most keenly contested in Wednesday night's opening test, Plummer didn't hesitate:
"It's always the battle between van Dyk and Ellis."
Both Plummer and Ellis, training in Auckland yesterday, were impressed by the new, improved van Dyk game in evidence against Jamaica in the past week.
The Australians took in the Ferns' 22-goal victory, sitting on their North Shore hotel beds drinking hot chocolate.
Ellis came out the victor in her last clash with van Dyk, in the Ferns' 47-50 loss to Australia two months ago, when the goal shoot and her feeders were outsmarted by the Australian's defensive unit. But Ellis seems less convinced it will be as black and white this time.
"It's interesting to see Irene back to her old self, lifting her level," she said. "When she's playing like that she's pretty dangerous. She took some beautiful ball, and had some beautiful feeds to her."
If van Dyk is on song again - after shooting 49 from 51 on Saturday - Plummer will look to the other end of the court to win the match.
"I think it's really going to be crucial - with Irene so dominant - that we are scoring at the other end. We have to have both shooters shooting 95 per cent plus, and we've been doing that," she said.
It may be the Ellis-van Dyk battle is all hype from the Australians. Now Australian goal defence Mo'onia Gerrard is out of the match with a calf tear, Plummer may play the taller Bianca Chatfield at goal keep, and move Ellis to goal defence, a move Ellis hinted at yesterday.
"I'll be pestering the coach for a run at goal defence. It's whether or not she lets me," she said.
Ellis kept an eye on the Ferns' new feeders - centre Laura Langman and rookie wing attack Maree Bowden, and the return of Julie Seymour. She liked the look of the Langman-Adine Wilson combination.
"I like seeing Julie Seymour on court too - she's older than me so it makes me feel better," she laughed. "We got a good look at their depth. [Bowden] wasn't afraid to give the ball into the circle."
Plummer wasn't as sold on Langman's debut at centre in the absence of mid-court general Temepara George.
"For any team to lose a player of her calibre is tough, and they're still working that out. Langman made a good attempt, she strives for perfection, but she was caught out on a few things," Plummer said.
The Australian coach says she is mindful that her side have won four of their last five encounters with the world champions, but "you're only as good as your last game".
NZ v AUSTRALIA
All live TV One
1st test: Wednesday, Auckland, 7.30pm.
2nd test: Saturday, Melbourne, midnight.
3rd test: July 24, Adelaide, midnight.
