KEY POINTS:
After an admittedly up-and-down year for the Silver Ferns, coach Ruth Aitken has honed her netball philosophy to a single sharp point.
Just do it.
And the ultimate test of it begins in Auckland on Saturday, when New Zealand defend their world championship title over the following week.
"Part of our philosophy is to try and make things as hard as possible for the players," Aitken told NZPA.
"Our mentality is that you've just got to get on with it, whatever happens. Don't even bat an eyelid.
"The environment is that if you want to play nice, you don't play for your country.
"Just do it."
With arch-rivals Australia injury-free and in daunting form, and England winning their first game in 32 years over New Zealand last May, there's a lot to do.
But Aitken is confident her 12-strong squad has always had the ability to win, and now has the cohesion and the mental toughness.
It won't be easy, she concedes, but it can be done.
The Silver Ferns will have to maintain focus during three low-intensity pool matches with Malawi, Botswana and Wales before upping the ante in a probable quarterfinal against South Africa, followed most likely by a semifinal clash with Jamaica.
Then, assuming Australia can dispose of a resurgent England team in the other semifinal, they will face yet another epic trans-Tasman final.
All going to plan, it adds up to six tests in eight days for the Silver Ferns, with the last three on consecutive days.
"That's the difference betwen the world championship and a test series," Aitken said.
"The big difference is in the recovery time between games, and when you get to that level, they're pretty tough games.
"They really test your fitness your mental toughness and your recovery strategies."
Despite a less-than-ideal build-up - including the call-up of Australian-based centre Temepara George after key midcourter Laura Langman's left foot stress fracture - Aitken has no doubt that the Silver Ferns can defend their title.
"I feel really confident that we're going in very well prepared. We've got very skilled players, and some amazing talent within the group.
"We have the ability to play at pace, and when we let the ball go, we're at our best."
That doesn't mean New Zealand will sacrifice control for pure speed, she emphasised, and players will have to make instinctive on-court decisions on the type of play a game may require at any stage.
"We've been working on trying to ensure we can play a patient game as well, and a game with courage. In the end you have to trust the players' ability to make adjustments from on court."
Aitken said the Silver Ferns' combinations are much more settled now than they were against England in May, and Australia in June.
"I certainly didn't doubt their committment and heart in those games, but the links weren't there. We didn't gel as a group. I certainly believe we're a lot more sure of our combinations now."
Especially in the Australian series, the Silver Ferns lacked fluency bringing the ball through the court, and had constant difficulty finding shooters Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia and Jodi Te Huna in the circle.
Aitken is confident those links are now working well, and is looking forward to testing them to the limit over the next week.
She is quite clear on exactly what it will take for the Silver Ferns to successfully defend their title.
"The team that wins needs to be a team that's not fazed by anything - not disturbed by unusual tactics the opposition might throw at you, or by up-and-down umpiring.
"It's all about maintaining confidence in each other, despite everything."
- NZPA
