Imploring New Zealand Netball to reinstate coach Noeline Taurua, Silver Ferns skipper Karin Burger believes her team can put the turmoil aside when they face Australia in the Constellation Cup opener.
The Diamonds host New Zealand in game one in Melbourne on Friday night with trouble in the ranks of their trans-Tasman neighbours, who hold the trophy after a 3-1 series victory last year.
It was the Silver Ferns' first series win since 2021 and just their third since the two top-ranked countries started playing for the prized trophy in 2010.
But in September New Zealand's governing body stood down Taurua, who guided the team to the world title in 2019.
The shock call followed a notable January training camp, with a group of players raising concerns to about her leadership and communication style.
After an independent investigation Yvette McCausland-Durie was made interim coach, with no timeline for Taurua's return.
Burger was last week named captain, replacing Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who made herself unavailable to spend more time with her young family.
The defender admitted it had been a tumultuous time for her team but believed they could still pull together on court.
"Our focus needs to be able to be playing on court now and I think, especially the last week we've made that shift and coming into this, it's definitely been massive improvements in terms of mental readiness," the 32-year-old said.
"There's a massive topic out there about whether players are divided and that's definitely not the case.
"It's important to understand anywhere in the world, people aren't always going to have the same opinion - it's going to be about their experiences and how they perceive things.
"That's normal and that's fine and we have to be able to work together regardless of how your opinion looks."
Star shooter Grace Nweke has been outspoken in her desire to have Taurua return to the post she held for eight years, while Burger also wants her mentor back on deck.
"Personally I have a really good relationship with Noels (Taurua) and my whole international career has been under her," she said.
"I've had ups and downs with her but that's made me into the player that I am today and I've loved my journey so I would love to have her as a coach again."
The Diamonds are coming off a comfortable three-Test clean sweep against South Africa and haven't tasted defeat against New Zealand in Melbourne for 10 years.
Skipper Liz Watson said the team had taken confidence from their recent form.
"Everyone's determined for that win - we were disappointed with how we played last year but everyone's really excited, taking a lot of confidence from our South African series as well, so we're all ready to go," the midcourt ace said.
Watson believed New Zealand would put the off-court drama aside.
"We know every time we face the Ferns, no matter what's been going on ... it's always going to be a really tough battle.
"We're all professional athletes and we can put anything aside and when we step out on court, it's game on, and I'm sure the Ferns are going to be exactly like that."
