"I think for me personally it's going to benefit me coming back into the game coming off injuries with the games only being 24 minutes long, so I'm looking forward to that."
The 24-year-old was part of New Zealand's maiden FastNet victory in 2009, but missed last year's edition when the Kiwis sent an inexperienced side but still managed to defend their crown.
While the format is still in its infancy, administrators hope it can have the same kind of influence on the game Twenty20 has given cricket and attract a new fan base.
Grant, who has seven FastNet caps and has played 33 times for the Silver Ferns, said there were still a few kinks that needed to be ironed out of the game, such as giving mid-court players the ability to hit two-pointers rather than just the shooters.
"If a shooter shoots a two-pointer it's one [shooter] against two [defenders] for a rebound inside the circle," she says. "So it makes it a little bit dodgy, so I definitely reckon the mid-court should be allowed to shoot.
"I think if a few more rules were adjusted, a little more like indoor and the marketing side of things picked up, then it could take off because it's six-minute quarters and you can have a social run about for half an hour or so."
Ageless shooter Irene van Dyk will captain the side in the absence of regular skipper Casey Williams, who is unavailable through injury, and there's also a sprinkling of rookies in a strong New Zealand side.
Southern Steel mid-courter Shannon Francois is uncapped at international level and Waikato-BOP Magic defender Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick and Northern Mystics player Kayla Cullen have played only a handful of games for the Ferns between them.
New Zealand open the six-team tournament against South Africa before meeting England later on day one.
Day two shapes as a hectic one for the Kiwis when they take on Jamaica, Australia and Fiji before the finals on day three.
Ever the optimist, Grant said the side wouldn't have any concerns in locking up another FastNet title.
"Oh absolutely. I'm definitely not going to say no, of course. We'll win three in a row ... We need to finish the year on a high."
FastNet Ferns: Irene van Dyk (captain, Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic), Kayla Cullen (Northern Mystics), Shannon Francois (Southern Steel), Katrina Grant (Central Pulse), Cathrine Latu (Northern Mystics), Camilla Lees (Central Pulse), Liana Leota (unattached), Anna Scarlett (Northern Mystics), Anna Thompson (Canterbury Tactix), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic), Jess Tuki (Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic), Maria Tutaia (Northern Mystics
What is FastNet?
- Matches are played over six-minute quarters with only two minutes breaks between each.
- There are seven players on court and five on the bench
- Rolling substitutions are allowed with an unlimited number of substitutions per team per quarter.
- After a goal is scored, the game restarts from the centre in favour of the team conceding.
- There will be alternative centre passes at the beginning of each quarter.
- There is no whistle after a goal is scored.
- Coaches will be allowed to coach from the sideline, but only in front of their bench.
- Each team will elect one quarter as a power play when any goals they score will be doubled.
- Shooters may shoot from outside of the circle, with all successful goals worth double (2 points which could escalate to 4 in power plays).
