KEY POINTS:
MELBOURNE: Australian coach Norma Plummer and captain Liz Ellis yesterday made a valiant but doomed attempt to claim underdog status for the second test against New Zealand here today.
A comprehensive seven-goal win over New Zealand in Auckland's first test on Wednesday aside, Australia have won five of
the last six clashes between the long-standing arch-rivals.
But at yesterday's pre-match media conference, neither Plummer nor Ellis would concede Australia were in the box seat for the three-test series, which ends in Adelaide on Tuesday.
Ellis, with 112 caps and 14 years' experience playing for Australia, is adamant the Australians haven't earned the favourites' tag.
"I certainly don't feel we have the wood on New Zealand. I keep reminding the girls ... we're playing the current world and Commonwealth Games champions.
"They're that for a reason - because they are the benchmark of world netball."
For that reason, she said, Australia had to guard against any lapse in concentration, which would let the Silver Ferns back into the match.
"The moment you start thinking you've got them is the moment they'll jump up and get you."
Ellis said Australia's 25-goal loss to the Silver Ferns at the end of 2005 was a catalyst for the team and the repercussions were still being felt.
"We're doing the little things better, we're treasuring possession a little bit more and we've stepped up our intensity in defence.
"I don't think the Australian team was doing massive things wrong when we lost, but the Silver Ferns were doing a lot of the little things better."
Plummer also talked up the New Zealanders' chances, heaping special praise on shooter Irene van Dyk.
"Irene is so fantastic with her aerial skills and sheer height ... As long as Irene's on court, we're always going to be working overtime."
Plummer said Australia didn't have the luxury that extra height allowed with their shooters.
"With us it's got to be more position - we can't afford to be just putting it up there. We haven't got the height, so we've got to work the ball instead."
Working the ball and treasuring possession are two areas New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken is looking for improvement in from her players.
"But most of all we need to look for that confidence in our attacking lines. We are best when we let the ball go. That was something Australia did well on Wednesday to slow us down. We have to prepare early and get that free space."
And there was plenty of room for improvement from her defensive line-up, Aitken said. "On defence, we've just got to have a go. [On Wednesday] we packed back too much and allowed them the front line."
- NZPA
