Transtasman stranglehold may end

For over half a century the Netball World Cup has been a battle of the two transtasman superpowers.

Since the first world tournament in Eastbourne, England, in 1963, there's only been one other winner outside of New Zealand and Australia - Trinidad and Tobago in 1979.

And even then the Caribbean side had to share the crown with both, you guessed it, New Zealand and Australia.

The introduction of finals to the World Cup format in 1991 has further underlined the dominance of the Australasian teams, with the Silver Ferns and Diamonds having contested all but one of the title deciders, after the Kiwis missed out in 1995 to Irene van Dyk's South African side.

But that 20-year transtasman stranglehold on the World Cup final is tipped to end this year.

The Ferns sharp slide in form over the past two years, which forced the New Zealand selectors to put a lot of faith in several untested youngsters, has seen New Zealand's side written off as title contenders.

With the continued rise of England and Jamaica, many are even predicting the Ferns won't feature in the final.

For Silver Ferns, defender Leana de Bruin admits it hurts that her side have slipped so far in the public's estimations.

But she says the modest level of expectation on the Silver Ferns in Sydney has released a pressure valve for the team.

While the pressure the team puts on themselves will always remain, being written off by the punters has been largely freeing for them as they head into tonight's opening game of the tournament against Barbados.

"In the beginning it did sting a bit, people even in our own country didn't believe in us, and I can see why - we haven't been very successful," said de Bruin.

"But I don't think [being an underdog] is a bad thing. People will write you off, but any team is beatable on any day and that's the attitude you've got to go in with."

The veteran defender, who is set to play in a record fifth World Cup, said the team's poor run of results over the past two seasons has not discouraged them heading into the tournament.

"We've had a very disappointing past 12-18 months, you get to the point where the wheel has got to turn some time, and that's probably what drives us that it will be our time soon."

"There's a good mix of experience and youth and there's a lot of hunger and now it's our time to show the people there is a good reason to believe in us."

The Ferns will get a good early gauge of their progress when they meet Australia in pool play on Sunday.