Comfortably accounting for South Africa, the Diamonds believe they will have to take their game to another level to wrest back the Constellation Cup from New Zealand.
Game one of the four-match series is in Melbourne on Friday night with Australia out to make amends for a disappointing 2024 campaign, where they lost the first three Tests before a final-game victory.
It was the Silver Ferns' first series win since 2021 and just their third since the trophy went on the line in 2010.
Both teams enter this year's battle on the back of three-Test sweeps over South Africa but Australia's was the more convincing, winning their matches by an average of 20 points.
The Silver Ferns were rocked before taking on the Proteas with their decorated coach Noeline Taurua stood down after eight years by New Zealand Netball, with no timeline provided for her return.
The shock call followed a January training camp, with a group of players raising concerns to about her leadership and communication style.
A subsequent independent investigation highlighted issues in the Ferns' environment, with Yvette McCausland-Durie taking over as interim coach.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio, who captained the side in the trans-Tasman showdown last year, also won't be in Melbourne after making herself unavailable, citing a desire to spend more time with her young family and take a break from the sport.
Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich didn't address the New Zealand turmoil in the press conference following the third Test win over South Africa, but expected the Silver Ferns to still mount a stiff challenge.
"New Zealand always bring it - they certainly did last year and they hold that cup," Marinkovich said.
"We're going to have to be at our best and we're just going to have to keep elevating our performance."
Sunday Aryang, Sophie Dwyer and Amy Parmenter come into the Constellation Cup squad while Jo Weston and new Diamonds Alice Teague-Neeld and Lucy Austin drop out.
Making her debut in the first Test, Teague-Neeld was named player of the series but Marinkovich was happy to give other players such as fellow wing attack Hannah Mundy more game time after her maiden appearance in game three.
"She's (Teague-Neeld) done an incredible job and I think that's the thing, players are taking their opportunities," the coach said.
"There's things that we still need to see from other players and still need to rotate combinations from within our squad - Hannah's only been out there for one game."
Following the John Cain Arena clash, the teams square off at Sydney's Qudos Bank Arena on October 22 before two games in New Zealand.
