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Australia look the best they have looked for a while, and as much as they are claiming the underdog status, they go into the World Championships as favourites.
The great thing for the Silver Ferns - and as the rugby World Cup has shown - is that nothing
before the tournament matters. It is all about the team that is able to absorb the pressure, perform, to gel together and do what it takes to win on the day.
I have really fond memories of the 1999 and 2003 world championships. Even though we lost in 1999, which was terribly destroying, it was a really good campaign. The build-up and everything had gone really well. We had beaten Australia in the lead up, we were going in as favourites and it was at home so there was lots of warm fuzzy stuff. Then we lost which was extremely crushing.
Our success in 2003 in Jamaica was partly the result of lessons learnt from the past.
There were a few players who had gone from 1999 into 2003 so the experience was there but there were also some new faces who had come through so there was a really good blend.
We had done a lot of work on making sure we were there mentally and had looked at all possible scenarios and how we were going to deal with the different situations that could arise. We were really ready for it.
Playing away from home it was much easier to switch off from the pressure. In New Zealand, every time the players venture out there will be people who know who they are and want to comment. It is quite a cauldron.
Australia have got the edge over the Silver Ferns at the moment. They have got their combinations right and are gelling. Their on-court chemistry looks good. It is going to be tough work for the Ferns but they definitely have got the potential to beat them.
They have really had to go away and work hard to get things in shape. While they have got those experienced heads of Julie Seymour and Irene van Dyk, they are really still quite a young bunch.
If you look at Australia and New Zealand there are only two players from each team that played in the 2003 final. Sharelle McMahon and Liz Ellis for the Aussies and Irene van Dyk and Sheryl Scanlan for New Zealand.
Having that experience in a grand final is really important, so the two sides are evenly matched in that respect.
Looking at the New Zealand team, van Dyk will fill the goal shoot position in the big games. Vying for the goal attack bib are Jodi Te Huna and Maria Tutaia. Maria has a beautiful shot and a confident long shot and she is an unorthodox GA which keeps the defence guessing. Jodi has a more complete game and she complements Irene well. It will be interesting to see if one of those two has put their hand up and said "this is my spot" or whether the role will be shared.
At wing attack, Adine Wilson has had a look at her game and ways she can improve. She probably hasn't been consistent in her outings against Australia in the last wee while, but she is still one of the best wing attacks in the world and she has a lot of experience.
Maree Bowden provides them with another option at wing attack. I think she has come along really well there. I would be comfortable playing her against Australia. She wants to be out there and she has worked hard.
I see them playing Laura Langman at centre. Although some of her first outings at centre haven't been that convincing, she has developed immensely and has a lot of potential there if she just works on her attacking game a little bit more and builds her relationship with the shooters. That just takes time. Hopefully her injury hasn't hampered her development.
They will go with Julie Seymour at wing defence. Their other option is Sheryl Scanlan. Julie probably offers the tighter game and against the Aussies that is going to be needed because they are very quick.
Goal defence is another position where they have a few options with Joline Henry, Sheryl Scanlan and Leana de Bruin.
Scanlan has occupied the position in recent Ferns' camps and has been looking really sharp. She offers that tight menacing game much like Henry while de Bruin's height can be a nusiance for her opponents.
They have got players there that will be able to disrupt the Aussies attack.
Expect to see Casey Williams in the goal keep bib if she can stay injury free.
She picks up a huge amount of ball, has great timing and is a really exciting player to watch. You have to have people who can pull off exceptional things in extraordinary circumstances.
While a lot has been made of Jamaica and England, I would be very surprised if it wasn't a New Zealand and Australia final. Although England had an upset win over New Zealand earlier in the year, I cannot see them doing it again. England have improved a lot which is great but I don't think they will be able to do it again in a big tournament.
Malawi is another team that might be worth keeping an eye on. The thing about world champs is there is such a range of countries and how each country plays the game is so unique to themselves.
Malawi is a prime example. When we played them in the Commonwealth Games they passed the ball 67 times or something ridiculous before they had an attempt at goal. We thought someone was taking the mickey.
It will be interesting to see where South Africa are at as they do have the tendency to pull out some tall timber and history has shown they can cause an upset. Fiji, will also be of interest, they are a really athletic, powerful and skilful side.
In the early part of the tournament the Silver Ferns will have lots of little things they will be trying to work on individually and as sub groups. They will have set goals they will be trying to work on - little bits and pieces with the big picture in mind, so it is not just going out there and trying to get huge goal margins against other teams.
Getting through the early games injury free and as fresh as possible is one of the most important factors.
I remember feeling absolutely stuffed in the 2003 final. I remember the first centre pass off and [Australia goal defence] Kathryn Harby taking off and I felt like I was about ten seconds behind her and I thought "oh my God I am stuffed already". My knees had been pretty sore but I remember thinking "come on let's get it going".
In the end, the team that can get out there with each individual focusing on doing their job and doing it the best they can and put all those peripheral things away will win.
* Belinda Colling was in the Silver Ferns squad between 1997-2004. She captained the side between 1997-1999.
