Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander won't let her side forget their Commonwealth Games heartbreak as Australia aims for a ninth-straight win against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Australia are experiencing a rare period of dominance over their traditional netball rivals and will enter Townsville's Constellation Cup fixture as short as $1.10 favourites with some bookies to extend that winning streak.
But the wounds have barely healed since England's shock 52-51 defeat of the Diamonds in April to claim Commonwealth gold and Alexander says the bitter taste of that loss would be enough to stave off any complacency.
"What we've tried to engender in this group is a growth and learning mindset," she said.
"We're never where we want to be, we know we have to keep getting better.
"If we don't, and stand still, the other teams are going to catch us up which we saw in that Commonwealth Games gold medal final when England beat us by one on that buzzer."
Australia are 4-0 in Tests since then, including an emotional 52-47 defeat of England and a 57-42 win against the Silver Ferns in Brisbane on Sunday.
The Diamonds are wary of what's to come though under new coach Noelene Taurua and comeback captain Laura Langman.
The pair combined with Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett to win the inaugural Super Netball title with the Sunshine Coast.
Langman didn't play last season but was voted in as captain on her return to international netball following the Commonwealth Games.
She will surpass Irene van Dyk as New Zealand's most-capped netballer when she earns her 146th start in Townsville.
"Playing 145 Tests for your country is incredible ... I love her to bits but don't want it to be a successful game for her," Bassett said.
"We'll be working hard to shut her down."
Alexander said there were plenty of sore bodies but no injury concerns after a "pretty brutal" Brisbane encounter.
The four-Test series will be completed in New Zealand with games in Hamilton on October 14 and Wellington on October 18.
