The Silver Ferns begin a highly compressed schedule this week.
They say a journey of 1000km begins with a single step. New Zealand netball's best and brightest know a strong showing in the upcoming ANZ Championship is pivotal for the journey leading to a Commonwealth Games' gold medal.
With the immediate focus on transtasman netball's showpiece (which kicks off when the Northern Mystics host the Adelaide Thunderbirds on Saturday), the country's best will use the competition as a springboard towards Silver Ferns selection and, ultimately, a plane ticket to Delhi.
Potential terrorism threats aside, games will be held on October 4-14 at Thyagaraj Sports Complex - with New Zealand defending the title claimed in Melbourne in 2006.
Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken has already mapped out a blueprint of her year, culminating in a successful title defence.
Because England, Australia, Jamaica and New Zealand all form part of the Commonwealth family, the competition is as good as it gets.
The Commonwealth Games conclude just four weeks before the Manchester-hosted World Fastnet Championships (November 19-21) - a competition in which New Zealand were crowned inaugural champions last year.
However, Aitken says this year's event is "far down the pecking order" in terms of her thinking.
That's because this year has a busy international programme - beginning directly after the ANZ Championship, with tests in Christchurch and Napier against Jamaica (August 18 and 21). That will be followed by a three-test series against Australia, including two games in New Zealand (September 2 and 5).
Prioritising which events take precedence over others is difficult. Aitken wouldn't be drawn on whether she would sacrifice early wins against Jamaica and England if it was to serve the wider goal of a gold medal.
"Because of the 2011 world championships falling in July [in Singapore], everything that is normally held over a 12-month period is being crammed into six months, which creates challenges," she says.
A possible solution would see Aitken field a team of fringe players at the Fastnet Championships, leaving her top 12 players to focus solely on the Commonwealth Games.
"We are certainly exploring those options at the moment. We are looking at whether or not the players that go to Delhi, also go to Fastnet. "
Aitken denied she had a say in how players were used in the ANZ Championship but a "two-way conversation" exists between herself and the New Zealand-based coaches.
She wants to ensure potential Silver Ferns are strictly adhering to their Individual Performance Plans, or IPPs, which set out what a player needs to do to claim or retain national honours.
The door is still open for fringe players to force their way into Aitken's dozen for the Games.
"We feel the squad is growing in depth and I think there's going to be challenges in all the positions so, yes, there's definitely still a chance for people to put their hands up for selection."
As the incumbent national captain, Casey Williams will figure prominently in Aitken's planning.
But despite being more or less assured of a Delhi berth, Williams recognises how crucial a solid transtasman performance is for her would-be team-mates.
"I think it's quite important, especially if you have a down period, it's knowing how to bounce back from that.
"Right now, it's hard to think that far ahead, but you always know that [the international programme is] there, in the back of your mind."
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If the first two instalments of the transtasman competition are anything to go by, failing to win games in Australia has been a major stumbling block for the Kiwi franchises.
Case in point - New Zealand's strongest franchise, the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic, have won 86 per cent of their home fixtures but only 63 per cent on the road.
The tale is even more dire for the four other New Zealand franchises.
The Mystics have won just 14 per cent of away games; the Tactix 17 per cent; the Steel 38 per cent; and the Pulse have yet to win in Australia.
In contrast to that, reigning premiers, the Melbourne Vixens, won every home game and lost just one away under the captaincy of fiery shooter Sharelle McMahon.
With the Vixens roster largely intact, the Victorians will be a formidable force in 2010.
Grand finalists last year, the Adelaide Thunderbirds have lost two big names in Australian Diamond Natalie Medhurst (Queensland Firebirds) and Laura von Bertouch.
The team's key signing is that of 1.93m Jamaican shooter Carla Borrego.
Going from top in 2008 to a cringeworthy ninth last year, the only way is up for the New South Wales Swifts, who will once again be led by coach Julie Fitzgerald and captain Catherine Cox.
While they have picked up England defender Sonia Mkoloma this season, questions remain over whether more change was warranted after a dismal 2009 campaign.
The Queensland Firebirds will be looking to new coach Rosalee Jencke to advance past their middle-of-the-road result last season, after successfully retaining last season's MVP in Romelda Aiken, while the West Coast Fever have added two new attackers in Leah Shoard and Janelle Lawson.
NEW ZEALAND TEAMS
How they shape up
NORTHERN MYSTICS
(8th in 2009; 7th in 2008)
Coach: Te Aroha Keenan
In: Althea Byfield (Pulse); Jenny-May Coffin (Steel 2008); Joline Henry, Maria Tutaia (Magic 2008-09); Larissa Willcox (Tactix); Bailey Mes, Kayla Cullen, Sulu Tone Fitzpatrick.
Out: Jade Topia (Steel); Stephanie Bond, Vilimaina Davu, Rawinia Everitt, Keshia Grant, Rachel Rasmussen, Debbie White, Pamela Cookey.
Prospects: In the past, the Mystics have been guilty of having strong players as individuals but an inexplicable inability to consolidate on court. However, with some strategic signings, including Silver Ferns Joline Henry and Maria Tutaia and arguably the Pulse's best performing player last year in Althea Byfield, the Mystics have the potential to push much higher than last year's eighth.
WAIKATO-BAY OF PLENTY MAGIC
(3rd in 2009; 2nd in 2008)
Coach: Noeline Taurua
In: Kahurangi Waititi (Pulse 2008, Tactix 2009); Jodi Brown (Tactix); Tanya Lund, Amy Christophers, Peta Scholz.
Out: Leana de Bruin (Steel); Joline Henry, Maria Tutaia (Mystics); Halana Leith,
Nicola Pettit.
Prospects: While Noeline Taurua has been vocal about how her players were aggressively targeted by other franchises, she still managed to retain most of her Silver Ferns. While Leana de Bruin, Joline Henry and Maria Tutaia are gone, Taurua has acquired the services of Jodi Brown, who will pair up with star shooter Irene van Dyk in the shooting circle. Underestimate the game-breaking capacity of Casey Williams at your peril – the Ferns captain pairs up with Australian import Peta Scholz, a key figure in last year's successful World 7 campaign. Atone for last season's poor win record across the ditch and Magic will still be standing at the business end.
SOUTHERN STEEL
(4th in 2009; 7th in 2008)
Coach: Robyn Broughton
In: Leana de Bruin (Mystics 2008, Magic 2009); Jade Topia (Mystics); Emma Moynihan; Hayley Saunders.
Out: Katrina Grant (Pulse); Leah Shoard (Fever); Donna Wilkins, Adine Wilson, Megan Hutton.
Prospects: After beating each New Zealand franchise in the home and away domestic season, with the exception of the Magic, the Steel climbed to fourth in last year's competition. Despite the departure of several key players in Donna Wilkins, Adine Wilson and Megan Hutton, Robyn Broughton has seven players with test experience, including captain Megan Dehn. After winning five from six at Stadium Southland last season, look for the southerners to once again keep the Magic honest and sneak in to the top five.
CANTERBURY TACTIX
(6th in 2009; 8th in 2008)
Coach: Helen Mahon-Stroud
In: Hayley Crofts (Pulse 2008); Peta Stevens (Firebirds 2008/09); Anna Galvan; Chelsea Pitman; Hannah Poff; Ashleigh Smith.
Out: Jodi Brown, Kahurangi Waititi (Magic); Sonia Mkoloma (Swifts); Larissa Willcox (Mystics); Julie Seymour (retired); Angela Mitchell.
Prospects: While the Tactix won't have the old head of former leader Julie Seymour, her retirement has seen her slot in beside Helen Mahon-Stroud as assistant coach. Recruiting former Firebirds captain and defender Peta Stephens will go some way towards plugging the gap but it's a largely untested squad that will don the red-and-black this season. With the likes of Sonia Mkoloma, Geva Mentor and Bianca Chatfield as potential opposition, the jury's out on whether her junior shooters can rise to the occasion.
CENTRAL PULSE
(10th in 2009; 10th in 2008)
Coach: Yvette McCausland-Durie
In: Ama Agbeze (Fever 2008, Vixens 2009); Jane Altschwager (Thunderbirds); Katrina Grant (Steel 2008-09); Alanah Cassidy, Daya Pritchard.
Out: Althea Byfield (Mystics); Hannah Broederlow, Larissa Harrison, Katie King, Neesha Wieser.
Prospects: Having been handed the wooden spoon in both seasons, the Pulse has become New Zealand's most forgettable team – winning just one game and drawing another in 26 games. While English defender Ama Agbeze and former Australian international Jane Altschwager have joined the fray – and shooter Paula Griffin has remained loyal – you can't help but think Yvette McCausland-Durie has her work cut out.
AUSTRALIAN TEAMS
New South Wales Swifts: Finished 9th in 2009; Winners 2008
Queensland Firebirds: Finished 5th in 2009; 5th in 2008
Melbourne Vixens: Winners 2009; 4th in 2008
Adelaide Thunderbirds: Finished 2nd in 2009; 3rd in 2008
West Coast Fever: Finished 7th in 2009; 9th in 2008
