The Diamonds are looking over their shoulders this world titles more than ever, on high alert for much-improved minnow nations closing in on the top four.
Australia are quoted at $1.35 to retain the Netball World Cup, starting on Friday night in Sydney.
But it doesn't mean coach Lisa Alexander or her charges will take anything for granted.
The usual suspects still constitute the main threats.
Less-fancied but unpredictable world No.2 New Zealand are a worry, while third-ranked England and fourth-ranked Jamaica are circling.
However, defender Sharni Layton said Australia would not take the perceivably less-dangerous countries any less seriously.
"I think we need to look over our shoulder ... because the other countries are catching up," she said.
"You can't concentrate on one team at worlds because, if you do, that's where you're going to slip."
Among the smaller-nation imports in the trans-Tasman championship is Malawi's Mwai Kumwenda.
The dynamic Mainland Tactix goal shooter has just finished her second season with a 91.6 per cent success rate - second only to Northern Mystics shooter and axed Silver Fern Cathrine Latu.
Take also shooter Peace Proscovia, whose physicality and raw talent have led to her becoming Uganda's first to sign with a UK Superleague team.
Australia know both African nations have the arsenal to fuel an upset.
That's why the Diamonds' first two opponents - world No.10 Trinidad and Tobago and ninth-ranked Barbados - will not be taken lightly.
While Alexander will use those matches on Friday and Saturday to give her whole 12-player squad game time, Layton said the Diamonds would not fall into the trap of approaching them as warm-ups for their first heavyweight clash on Sunday with the Kiwis.
"Trinidad and Tobago are such a physical team as well as Barbados, and you can't underestimate anyone," Layton said.
"If you underestimate any of the teams we're coming up against, then they can trample on top of you.
"We need to come out against them at our best to be able to be our best against New Zealand."
There's fierce competition for the seven starting spots in an Australian squad Alexander has hailed as the best she's coached, although eight matches in 10 days will ensure most, if not all, players get a turn warming the bench.
Layton said her teammates were pushing each other hard in every session to make their case, however the 27-year-old insisted she wasn't fazed about which role she played - even if it meant captain Laura Geitz took her preferred goal keeper bib.
Layton and Geitz are coming off blistering trans-Tasman seasons, Layton emerging as No.1 defender with a competition-high 47 intercepts and 104 deflections for the NSW Swifts.
Geitz, a part of the championship-winning Queensland Firebirds, had 40 intercepts and 92 deflections - 29 more than Waikato's Leana de Bruin.
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