It's a marked difference from the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, when fatigue took its toll as a spate of injuries in the shooting circle put several players under strain.
A review into the Ferns' disastrous Games campaign last year highlighted a need for a greater emphasis on conditioning throughout the season. It's not that the team were unfit. But with the ANZ Championship preparing players for only one match a week, the sudden increase in workload in a tournament environment led some players to breakdown.
Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu set the tone at the beginning of the year with the selection of her team for the Oceania Series in Fiji, picking the 12 fittest players for the tour after rigorous testing during the summer conditioning camp.
The squad continued to have the conditioning message drilled into them by the team's strength and conditioning specialist, Stephen Hotter, at cluster camps during the transtasman league season.
Grant said the hard work put in over the past nine months was having a noticeable impact this week.
"It's no secret that one of our big work-ons from last year was our conditioning. We've had lots of camps and things that have focused on building our fitness and conditioning for this tournament," said Grant. "We're actually really well prepared and we've pulled up probably better than what we have in the past."
Yesterday's rest day gave the Ferns the chance to reset and reground themselves after the high of toppling the Australians, ending a two-year losing streak.
New Zealand vice-captain Laura Langman said the team had been quick to put the win in perspective. After all the hard work developing new combinations and a new game style, it was a relief to get confirmation they were on the right track. But they were also conscious they had some tough matches to come.
"We're very aware that it is only day three and we have a big contest against Jamaica."
Langman said the team were also conscious Australia were not at their best on Sunday.. The Ferns now expected their arch-rivals to fix flaws. "We've definitely poked the bear."
Kopua back to her classy best
Leana de Bruin had just two words for defensive partner Casey Kopua when she stepped off the court following the Silver Ferns' shock win over Australia on Sunday night: "welcome back".
Any lingering questions over the Ferns' skipper's form following her return from a horrific knee injury last year were firmly stamped out, with Kopua back to her inspirational best. The Ferns' defensive warrior overcame the mental challenge of taking on the formidable Diamonds outfit on the back of limited match play this season, producing her best performance since returning to the court three months ago.
De Bruin said after a couple of shaky performances earlier on in the tournament Kopua's fearless showing against Australia was confirmation she was back.
"I said to her when she walked off the court 'welcome back'."
Kopua's return to form comes at the right time for the Ferns as the defensive end prepares to take on one of the toughest jobs in world netball tonight - marking the Jamaican super shooters Romelda Aiken and Jhaniele Fowler-Reid. At 1.96m and 1.98m respectively, the towering shooters are big targets at the back for Jamaica, giving them the ability to score freely and quickly when the ball is fired in at will to the shooting circle.
But de Bruin believes Kopua is up to the task.
"Casey has taken a lot of confidence from last night and we know she can handle that, so hopefully, if we can put the pressure on out in front, she can get a hand to the ball."
Day 5
Top eight round qualification matches today:
4.20pm: South Africa v Uganda/Wales
6.20pm: Malawi v Uganda/Wales
8.20pm: New Zealand v Jamaica*
10.20pm: Australia v England*
* Likely games
