Despite growing up in Australia, Martina Salmon always believed she was destined to play against the Diamonds.
On Friday night, the Silver Ferns shooter's dream came true during the Constellation Cup clash in Melbourne.
The Australians opened the four-match series with a thumping 69-52 victory, including 24 last-quarter goals to post their highest-ever score against New Zealand.
With her side sticking to the Diamonds for three quarters, New Zealand coach Yvette McCausland-Durie felt her young players, including 21-year-old Salmon (nee Reekers), would be better for the experience.
Salmon stepped into the Silver Ferns goal circle this year following veteran captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio's decision to take a break from the game.
Combining with superstar Grace Nweke, Salmon, playing goal attack rather than her usual position of goal shooter, slotted 12 goals from 15 attempts in just her second start.
Salmon's Test selection could come back to haunt the Diamonds, with the 190cm sharpshooter coming through the Queensland pathways and being named in the Australian under-21 squad.
While she was a training partner with Super Netball side Sunshine Coast Lightning, her big break came after shifting to New Zealand and playing in their elite domestic league, with an international call-up coming in her first season.
Of Samoan, Tongan and Dutch descent, Salmon was born in Auckland and moved to Brisbane as a two-year-old, but always wanted to wear the black dress to honour her late grandmother.
"Whatever opportunities I get first I would take with both hands but New Zealand would by my first option," she said in an interview as a teen.
"That's where I was born and it was also my nan's dream to play in the black dress."
McCausland-Durie said the Silver Ferns were lucky to have Salmon, who made her Test debut in their recent series win over South Africa, and is set to feature in next year's Commonwealth Games and 2027 Netball World Cup.
"It's worked out well, lucky for us," the interim coach said.
"When we had her dress presentation and her family travelled over to do that ... she said that her mum always thought that she would be a Diamond, and she was absolutely adamant she was going to be a Fern so our win."
Game two of the series is in Sydney on Wednesday night before matches in Hamilton and Christchurch.
New Zealand hold the prized trans-Tasman trophy after a 3-1 series win last year.
