KEY POINTS:
GOLD COAST - New Silver Ferns netballer of the moment Liana Barrett-Chase is deflecting rave reviews of her debut until she handles the pressure of Sunday's final test against Australia.
The same goes for her team whose 46-41 win over the Diamonds in Melbourne will count for little
if they don't close out the series in Brisbane.
Barrett-Chase, 23, made a memorable debut off the bench at wing attack, her impact helping lift the Ferns from a 7-15 quarter time deficit.
With the experienced midcourter Julie Seymour (Achilles tendon) in Brisbane but rated unlikely to play by coach Ruth Aitken after sitting out training yesterday, Barrett-Chase will again be a key figure in the Ferns' attack.
That means the nerves will be even more intense for Barrett-Chase at a packed Brisbane Entertainment Centre after she was given a physical welcome to the big time in Melbourne.
"It was an awesome experience but a big wakeup, too. The first few passes I took I went, oops here goes... but you get used to it and just brace yourself for the knocks," she said.
"I don't know about (being one of the standout players). It might have been a fluke, no pressure or anything. This is definitely the one to prove myself.
"For the team it's important to show we're not one-hit wonders. We only won the first by five and we want to really back it up and end this year on a high note."
There's also the world No 1 ranking up for grabs although the rankings aren't re-calculated until January 1. The Diamonds were No 1 when they were last released at the start of October.
The hosts are confident of turning the tables, even without their star shooters Sharelle McMahon (knee) and Catherine Cox (ankle).
Stand-in captain Mo'onia Gerrard has quickly stamped her mark, labelling the Ferns "cocky" in victory and saying her Diamonds lost Sunday's test rather than the Ferns winning it.
Ferns coach Ruth Aitken hit back yesterday, imploring the umpires to keep a tighter rein on the Diamonds' rough defence on her key shooter Irene van Dyk which she labelled excessive in Melbourne.
Van Dyk's 94 per cent shooting success under heavy pressure was a key to the Ferns' win, while her 1.93m opposite number Kate Beveridge could only manage 68 per cent.
Aitken said the team's attacking play and possession rates were a key focus this week.
Victory would make it a rare three in a row for the Ferns against their fierce rivals after the 38-31 win in the second test in Auckland in September, then Melbourne.
The teams have met in Brisbane twice before, the Silver Ferns winning both including a 52-40 victory in 2006.
In Australia the teams have met 37 times with the Diamonds winning 21, the Ferns 15, and one draw.
Barrett-Chase said the way the team handled the big home crowd in Melbourne was encouraging, and it was important New Zealand teams get over any hoodoo about crossing the Tasman.
"In the ANZ Cup no one won in Australia so hopefully that curse will be over next year when the Kiwis come over.
"We're all pretty tight and we're quite family orientated. We know there's tv cameras there and you never feel like there's no one here supporting you, there's plenty of people back home watching."
- NZPA
