Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua says their matches in Auckland this week are ideal preparation for next month's Netball World Cup.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua Photo: Photosport
New Zealand will face Fiji, the New Zealand men's side and an All Stars selection before they head off for the tournament in England next week.
Taurua said the Ferns are clear on their objectives for the matches over the next four nights.
"We want to [work on our] culture and some bonding. But basically as well, it's about performance and getting ourselves ready for lead up into the worlds.
"All three teams that we are going to play over this week is perfect for us in being able to give us different styles but also getting out on court and testing our strategies as well," Taurua said.
The Ferns start this week's series with a match against an All Stars selection of New Zealand players.
Taurua admitted a number of the players in the All Stars side were unlucky to miss out on World Cup selection.
She hoped that would inspire them to play well against the New Zealand team.
"It's a massive opportunity for them to show themselves and to perform at a high level, and honestly an open opportunity for them to give it to the Silver Ferns and show their class and their worth out there on court.
"Hopefully the standard of their play will be as high as it can and the competition will be fierce."
Silver Ferns captain Laura Langman Photo: © Actionplus 2018
Thursday night's match against the national men's side had also drawn a lot of attention since it was announced.
Taurua said the game prepared her side not only for the physicality of Australia but the aerial flair of Jamaica and the unpredictability of Malawi.
She expected it to be a fierce contest.
"It's the first opportunity for the men to be showcased on live TV.
"They want to make sure that they put out a game that has high skill and high speed.
"Then it's up to us to be able to counteract that and compete against the physical nature of the men. It's going to be a great challenge."
Meanwhile, Taurua said defender Katrina Rore will still play her part during the team's pre World Cup matches this week.
The Central Pulse skipper is out of the games after injuring her calf at the team's training camp on the Sunshine Coast last week.
Taurua said they'll be keeping a close eye on Rore as the start of the World Cup looms on 12 July in England.
"It's always disappointing with anybody getting injured but also knowing how much work Katrina has put in and [she] has played a phenomenal ANZ Championship.
"We're just taking our time in regards to what we need to do and make sure that she's medically sound and have different stages over the next couple of weeks before we can ascertain her availability for the [World Cup]."
