Strengths and weaknesses are clearer, but the Silver Ferns are still an unknown quality under pressure, coach Waimarama Taumaunu believes.
The 12-strong squad leave for Sydney and the netball World Cup on Monday, looking to wrest the title off Australia for the first time since 2003.
After a couple of warm-up matches against Australia under-21, they begin their campaign with low-key pool matches against Barbados on Friday and Trinidad and Tobago the next day, before meeting defending champions Australia next Sunday.
It will be the first time New Zealand's new-look shooting circle has faced any sort of opposition, with walkover victories against Fiji and South Africa last week offering minimal chance to test combinations under defensive pressure.
Taumaunu says that first game against the Diamonds, while not hugely vital in terms of the overall result, presents something of a step into the unknown.
The Silver Ferns have been working hard to bed in an up-tempo, fear-free game plan aimed at getting the most out of an athletic, unpredictable shooting circle.
Against less-ranked teams - Fiji are seventh in the world, and South Africa sixth - the Silver Ferns have looked impressive.
But whether they can replicate that form against top-line teams like England, Australia or Jamaica remains to be seen.
"I think they are going to be up to it, but we won't know until it actually hits," Taumaunu admits.
The emphasis building towards the World Cup has centred on getting the ball, and not being afraid of making mistakes. To be successful, it requires an effective, hard-working defence generating a consistent supply of turnover ball.
"For us to be able to do that in tough games, we've got to be practising it in games where it's easier," Taumaunu said.
"We need to not be afraid of taking risks, and work hard in building understanding, so that when we're putting the ball into space and into the air, it's being well-read and shooters are taking it with some comfort."
Bailey Mes has cemented herself as New Zealand's No.1 goal shoot in recent outings, with spectacular elevation, quick hands and feet, and impressive rebounding skills.
But her accuracy can fluctuate, and the Silver Ferns will be relying on a strong through-court defensive effort to supply enough turnover ball for that not to matter.
To some degree, Taumaunu says, that means it's not really relevant who the opposition is.
"We are very focused on ourselves, putting out our best performance, meeting our own targets and doing that as the competition ratchets up."
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