But last year's dreadful season hasn't eroded New Zealand vice-captain Laura Langman's excitement about the challenge ahead.
"When you start a four-year cycle it feels so far away and now to be 100 days out is quite unbelievable, so there's a lot of nervous excitement that's going around at the moment," the veteran midcourter said.
Langman, who stood in as captain late last year after the team's inspirational leader, Casey Kopua, suffered a serious knee injury, said there was no lingering hangover from their disastrous 2014 season, with the group committed to improving.
"You can't really afford hangovers. If we are going to be better we have to move on from that and when we get into our cluster sessions the attitude is really great and one of excitement and willingness to be better, so I think that is a great starting platform after coming off what was a very difficult year."
The Silver Ferns World Cup team won't be selected until after the ANZ Championship season, with national trials the week after the grand final, meaning the New Zealand squad are under selection pressure every time they take the court. After a slow start to the transtasman league season, New Zealand coach Waimarama Taumaunu is hoping the Kiwi sides will begin to hit their straps as the playoffs approach.
"I'm quite pleased with the conference system, it gives our younger teams time to sort themselves out so they'll be competitive at the end of the season so I think that will be beneficial to them," she said.
As well as keeping a close eye on the New Zealand and Australian players in the transtasman league, Taumaunu is also monitoring their other rivals with the recent change to the England coaching staff giving her plenty to think about.
"You come to learn the style of a coach and you can start to think about who they might look to put on court and when. And while I know Tracey [Neville] well, she will come into the job with new ideas and that adds a degree of uncertainty about what the England team will look like."
Australia
The Diamonds struck a setback a few weeks back with the loss of key midcourter Madison Robinson to a serious knee injury, but such is the depth in Australian netball there is no shortage of players lining up to take her spot. With the Australian teams dominating the transtasman league, confidence in Australian netball remains at an all-time high.
England
Questions have been raised over the stability of the English team after the shock axing of coach Anna Mayes. Mayes has been replaced by former international shooter Tracey Neville, who will take the reins for the first time in next month's test series against Trinidad and Tobago.
Jamaica
Along with the on-court challenges, Jamaican netball is also facing a financial battle this year. The organisation has launched a fundraiser to get the team to the World Cup, asking local businesses and individuals to donate money.
