By JULIE ASH
Ruth Aitken has just one week to prepare her team before they front up to a battle-hardened Australian side in the first test in Christchurch.
The Silver Ferns go into camp in Blenheim today in preparation for the three-test series, which starts next Wednesday.
The Silver Ferns have not played a match since they beat Australia in the final of the world championships in Jamaica last July.
Australia have racked up wins over England and South Africa and come to New Zealand after a series of "friendlies" against England.
"They have certainly played a lot," Aitken said. "Obviously it will all come to fruition quite soon whether we are underdone or not.
"But I think the last few weeks of the National Bank Cup has really provided some incredible intensity and I have seen players sort of lift with it all."
The Silver Ferns will play the New Zealand A team twice in Blenheim this weekend. Australia will also play the New Zealand A team before the first test.
"I am confident the links will come back quite quickly," Aitken said.
"I think as a coach you always want more time but you have to balance that out with their lives at home and their work and I think we have the philosophy where we come in and we work hard for a short time."
While Victoria Edward and Joline Henry are the only newcomers to the world-champion Silver Ferns side, Australia have undergone big changes, including appointing a new coach, Norma Plummer.
Former captain Kathryn Harby-Williams and experienced midcourters Nicole Richardson and Rebecca Saunders have all retired, and Eloise Southby will miss the series through injury.
New to the team are midcourters Susan Meaney and Jessica Shynn and towering defenders Demelza Fellowes and Bianca Chatfield, who have been been brought in to try to shut down the Silver Ferns' shooting ace Irene van Dyk.
Aitken said the changes added an element of the unknown to the Australian side.
"It does add to your apprehension a little bit. It is fair to say they probably feel that they know a lot more about us.
"I think they will be very hungry. They have nothing to lose at this point of time," she said.
"It is probably quite a different situation for them to be in, in that they are the number two and so they are just going to go for it."
NZ v Australia
1st test: Christchurch, next Wednesday.
2nd test: Palmerston North, July 2.
3rd test: Hamilton, July 5.
Netball: Aitken certain Ferns up to task
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