Netball: Cup final sees off Ferns veterans

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The end of the Constellation Cup is in sight, which for several long-serving Silver Ferns players means so too are their international careers.

The final outing against Australia in Perth this Friday will be coach Waimarama Taumaunu's last test in charge of the New Zealand side. It also looks set to be in the international swansong of a host of the team's veteran stars, with captain Casey Kopua, Leana de Bruin and Jodi Brown widely tipped to be stepping down at the end of the year.

While Taumaunu insists the impending departures have not been topic of conversation among the team, defender Katrina Grant said the team is in for an emotional week.

"You can kind of feel it brewing, when we get to Perth I think it's going to sink in that this team will never be together again and it is going to be strange," she said.

"We've been through such massive highs and lows together as a group, so it's going to be tough to see people leave."

Lacklustre displays in the opening two tests of the series inspired little optimism that the Ferns could send their coach and retiring stars out on a high. But a 50-47 come-from-behind win in the third test in Melbourne, which marked Kopua's 100th test cap, has given some hope that the Ferns can close out a heart-breaking season on a more positive note.

With Australia holding a healthy 13-goal advantage in points differential after wins by six and 10 goals in the opening two tests, the Ferns' chances of claiming the silverware in the fourth and final test appear remote. But levelling the series at two-all would sit a lot better with those for which there will be no next year.

After a rapid-fire start to the series with three tests in six days, the teams have a five-day turnaround before they take the court again in Perth. The extended break between games may cause some in the team to get restless, but Taumaunu does not believe her side will lose sight of what they're in Perth to do.

"I'm sure there won't be any danger of losing focus of why we're here. It will be nice to have a couple of days in a row where we don't have to be thinking about playing a test match against Australia the next day."

While the players are keeping their plans under wraps, it can be said with certainty Friday's final test will be Taumaunu's last match at the helm, ending an eight-year involvement with the national programme.

Taumaunu doesn't anticipate any build-up of emotion when the final whistle sounds in Perth.

"I don't get particularly emotional about things, I think change is exciting. I'm really excited about what the Ferns will look like in the future and I'm excited about what I might be doing. There's nothing sad here, I've had my time, I've made my contribution for the Ferns, I hope I've left them in a better space and it's time for someone else," she said.