Netball: Diamonds lack polish - Bassett

Caitlin Bassett. Photo / Getty Images

Australian goal shooter Caitlin Bassett says the Diamonds cannot afford another lacklustre performance if they want to beat arch-rivals New Zealand in their opening netball test in Perth on Sunday.

The Australians completed a three-game series sweep against England on Sunday, but won the final match by only four goals.

Bassett was Australia's world championship hero in Singapore in July, shooting the winning goal in extra time of the final against the Silver Ferns.

Bassett believed the Diamonds made too many errors and were unable to convert enough of their turnovers.

She said that to win again, they would have to vastly improve.

"We really can't perform the way that we did again against New Zealand," the 23-year-old said. "Although the Poms really took it up and challenged us, it was a really good match for us before we play New Zealand."

Bassett started the game with her new Perth Fever teammate, Catherine Cox, who is the stand-in Australian captain with Natalie von Bertouch still sidelined with a foot injury.

While the Australian shooters were slightly below par, there is more concern at the other end of court, with goal defence Julie Corletto limping off at halftime with a corked thigh. Corletto is no certainty to face the Silver Ferns, while fellow defenders Laura Geitzand Mo'onia Gerrard still have topass fitness tests on their injured calves.

Good friends with some of the Perth-based Wallabies, who were eliminated by New Zealand on Sunday at the Rugby World Cup, Bassett said she could feel their pain.

"It's obviously devastating, we know how it feels," Bassett said. "We're always really hungry to beat New Zealand."

The series concludes with games in Adelaide on October 26 and Melbourne on October 30.

- AAP