Netball: Rocky Mystic to Ferns rock

Maria Tutaia admits her confidence suffered with the Mystics. Photo / Getty Images

Despite enduring the worst year of her career - by some distance - Maria Tutaia remains the go-to girl for the Silver Ferns.

When the Constellation Cup resumes next month, the Ferns will need to win two of three games in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra to retain the trophy they won for the first time last year.

It's a tough ask and much depends on Maria. In a way, it always has since she became a regular member of the team in 2007 but it seems now New Zealand needs her more than ever.

The inexperience at wing attack (whether it is Anna Thompson or Courtney Tairi) means that the service into the circle, and especially to Irene van Dyk, is not as smooth as in the past with Temepara Bailey (nee George), Liana Leota or Camilla Lees. It also means that the Diamonds, as was shown in the second test on Thursday, have the ability to strangle van Dyk out of the game. The veteran shooter may thrive for a quarter or two but will struggle to escape the Australian defenders for the whole game. The fact that Caitlin Bassett is almost unstoppable on attack for Australia - she shot 32 from 36 on Thursday - increases the scoreboard pressure on the Ferns, putting the onus on Tutaia to regularly find the net.

"In today's game, to have a goal attack that can be available in the midcourt to do a bit of work and then step up in the circle and put those long bombs away relieves a lot of pressure," says Silver Ferns coach Wai Taumaunu. "It also means you don't need to get involved in the really physical stuff close to the posts and relieves pressure on Irene. Irene gets a lot of attention but you can't do that when Maria is around - you have to have someone on Maria."

The reliance, greater than ever before, on Tutaia is a remarkable situation. Aside from Cathrine Latu, who made the cut partly due to the lack of local options at goal shoot, none of her Mystics team-mates are involved in this current series.

Tutaia was the new captain of the shambolic Auckland team which lost a staggering 12 of 13 games to finish bottom of the 2013 ANZ Championship. She was initially made co-captain with Anna Harrison but when the defender fell pregnant before the season started, she became sole skipper. Tutaia never really appealed as a natural leader and it wasn't much fun as their campaign swiftly nosedived.

"I'm not going to lie, there were times that I lost my confidence, especially at the start of the season," says Tutaia. "To lose game after game was gutting and you can't help it when you lose some belief.

"It was a challenge but I am glad I took on the captaincy role; I have learnt a lot about what I can handle."

Taumaunu admits she was concerned as she watched the Mystics lurch from defeat to defeat, wondering how her star shooter would fare in that situation.

"I know there have been times over the years where she had been distracted and not put in great performances but in general for the Ferns, she has stepped up," says Taumaunu. "My expectation of her is pretty high and my experience is that she has stepped up in the black dress with occasional lapses. So I wasn't necessarily worried from a netball form point of view but I was concerned that she was a new captain, in a difficult team environment and they were losing all the time. Those things can attack your confidence and belief, which is pretty important for a shooter."

Tutaia has emerged from the carnage well and Laura Langman even suggested that the experience could be "the making of her as a player".

"What I like about her is that even when she is off - and that is very seldom - she still wants the ball and will put the shots up," says Langman.

"That takes a lot of guts because as a shooter, it is obvious when you are off your game. Regardless of when she is on or off, I will give her the ball 100 per cent of the time when she is free."

The 26-year-old has also thrived under the close watch of new assistant coach Vicki Wilson, who has more than doubled the amount of shooting done in training.

"I've really enjoyed working with her," says Tutaia of Wilson. "Obviously her knowledge and experience is great - she is a freaking legend - but she is also really positive and animated. She really wants to help you, is good at lifting your spirits as a shooter and is great to have in the team environment."