Captain Katrina Grant said it's time for the Silver Ferns to step up and perform. Photo / Getty
The Silver Ferns will depart on Saturday to London for the opening match of the 2018 Netball Quad Series and captain Katrina Grant assured the team would be ready to perform.
"It's pressure time and we all know it, we all need to front up and start performing," Grant told Radio Sport.
Despite the holiday season, Grant said "it's been a summer of training" for the team, following the Fern's December training camp.
Read more: Silver Ferns stun Australia to take Quad Series title
"We've been back in our regions for the last week or so training pretty darn hard and back into netball so we can head off to the UK in good nick and play some good netball."
"We've been trying to maintain, if not improve fitness and strength as much as possible as we know that going into three tests against England, South Africa and Australia, three of the top nations in the world, is always going to be tough," said Grant.
The Ferns claimed the Quad Series over Australia for the first time in a stunning 10-goal win last year but failed to maintain momentum after a 4-0 loss to Australia in the Constellation Cup.
Read more: Netball: Ordinary Silver Ferns overpowered by Australia
Grant said it was a very disappointing loss but assured the Ferns have grown stronger as a result, with the determination to step up in next week's opening game.
"Coming in off 4-0 against Aussie wasn't pleasant … so coming into December camp all of us were refocusing as a team as well and making sure we were all on the same page."
"First and foremost we need to go in and we need to win these three games and improve. Those losses against Aussie last year are not going to be any good for us if we haven't learned from them and that's the key message I think we're all going forward with."
Read more: Netball: Silver Ferns beaten by England in Quad Series clash
The Silver Ferns will come up against the England Roses on the 21st of January at 7am (NZT). They will then fly to South Africa where they will take on the SPAR Proteas on the 26th of January.
SKY Sport New Zealand will broadcast all the matches live during the series, including those not of the Silver Ferns.
Silver Ferns goal shoot Grace Nweke speaks about the Constellation Cup series and the rivalry against the Diamonds in the final match. Video / Alyse Wright