KEY POINTS:
After a couple of bizarre outcomes in the first two tests between the Silver Ferns and England, tonight's series decider in Palmerston North is likely to provide the most accurate gauge of where both sides are at.
The third test was expected to be a dead rubber after
the Ferns monstered the meek English by nearly 40 goals in the opening test, but England's stunning reversal of form in the second test has sparked life back into the fixture.
New Zealand did not count on such a fierce fightback from the tourists in the second test, with England ambushing the Ferns to claim a shock 40-38 win.
After a substandard performance the Ferns are desperate for payback tonight, while the English can sniff victory and will fancy their chances of claiming their first series win over New Zealand.
New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken said that with both sides expected to come out hard, tonight's match would be a more apt reflection of where the two sides sat in relation to each other.
"There's been a lot of emotional highs and lows in this last week for both teams, so I think the resilience factor will really come into play and of course, how well we travel because it's been a demanding week," she said. "So I think their fitness and mental fortitude will really be to the fore."
If it's mental fortitude that counts, England have already demonstrated they have it in spades with their remarkable turnaround in the series. Coach Sue Hawkins said the real challenge now for her side was doing it again and proving they were not "one-hitwonders".
New Zealand were caught off guard by the fight of the visitors in the second test, but England cannot rely on having the same surprise factor in Palmerston North. The Ferns will be fired up for tonight's match and expecting a huge battle from the English. However Hawkins warns her side still have more to give as well.
"We know they're going to come out hungry and hunting again so we need to counteract that. We've got to be tougher, stronger and smarter," she said.
Having come off such a convincing win in the opening test, Aitken opted to rejig her attacking end for the second match with limited success.
Hawkins believes there'll be no mucking around from her counterpart tonight and expects New Zealand to go with their strongest line-up - a prospect that does not faze the England coach in the slightest.
"That's not our worry, we're worrying what we're doing," she said. "It doesn't matter what team they put out there, we're going to counteract them and go for it. We've got nothing to lose. We've come away with some pride already."
Silver Ferns sharpshooter Irene van Dyk said her side aimed to stamp out any hopes England have of claiming a historic series win in the first five minutes of the match.
"We have to go out there and dominate right from the start, we cannot afford England to get their tails up, because as soon as they sniff success they start to thrive," said van Dyk.
"We need to make sure we execute our game plan perfectly because, by gosh, we're really determined to put out a good show."
THIRD TEST
Silver Ferns v England.
Palmerston North, 7.30 tonight.
Previous meetings - 69.
New Zealand won 64, lost 3, drawn 2.
