Surprised by their record result in game one, Diamonds mid-court ace Jamie-Lee Price is expecting a closer contest with New Zealand in the second Constellation Cup netball clash.
The trans-Tasman arch-rivals square off at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on Wednesday night after the Diamonds ran up their highest-ever score against the Silver Ferns, winning their Melbourne match 69-52.
The sides were close until the final quarter, which the Diamonds won 24-11 as they steamed away to the big victory.
Price, who played all but the last five minutes at wing defence, said her team was delighted with the result but wouldn't be satisfied until they had secured the trophy back from the Kiwis.
"That's the highest score we've ever had against New Zealand and that surprises us and we know that's never a given, so I think whilst it was an amazing result, we definitely won't get carried away," the 29-year-old said.
"I feel like the second time around, you kind of get a glimpse of what each other are about and it's like, game on again.
"We know that they're going to be very motivated and and they're going to look back on the game and be very disappointed and they'll come out firing."
The Sydney match is particularly important given Australia's recent struggles in New Zealand, with their last win across the ditch coming back in 2021, when they played all four Tests in Christchurch due to COVID restrictions.
Suffering a demoralising 3-1 series loss last year, Price said her team were determined to make amends as they build towards next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow where they will defend their title.
"Last year we were really disappointed in what we put out and we know that we have such high standards of ourselves and of each other so we're really motivated," said Price, who will play with the Melbourne Mavericks next Super Netball season.
"We're missing that trophy in our cabinet and we're very keen to bring it back home so I think that's definitely a motivation."
Price said the Diamonds weren't looking past the Sydney match to ending their New Zealand drought but hoped they could also prove themselves in the Tests in Hamilton and Christchurch.
"We've probably focused on that a little bit the last couple of years but I don't think we've really spoken about it too much, which is probably a good thing - we're trying not to put too much pressure on ourselves and just focusing on here and now.
"Once we get over to New Zealand, I think we're pretty keen to get some wins."
