As the two super powers of world netball face off for the Constellation Cup series, there is a whole lot more on the line than a nice, jewel-encrusted trophy.

Sure, it's an opportunity to put some much-needed bling in Australian sport's reasonably bare trophy cabinet, but more importantly it is a chance for the Diamonds to find the form that has seen them dominate every major tournament since 2011.

It won't be easy. The Silver Ferns racked up a 10-goal win over the Diamonds in the Quad Series and will be desperate to push their advantage in this series.

The Constellation Cup also represents an opportunity for the Diamonds to atone for their sub-par performances in last month's Quad series.

Australia can count themselves lucky to have come away with wins in close matches against South Africa and England, and will do well to look closely at the causes of their loss to the Silver Ferns, starting with their crippling penalty count and lack of midcourt cohesion.

The fact Vixens centre Kate Moloney and Firebird Caitlyn Nevins have been brought in for this series indicates Australian selectors are still looking for some midcourt magic.

I suspect the Diamonds will be better for having had the run against the Silver Ferns. One of the upsides for New Zealand in the separation of the former Trans-Tasman domestic competition was they have regained the element of mystery that a well-structured defensive zone has.

In the old competition, Australian players got the opportunity to play against the zone several times a year, so when they encountered it in a Test match they were well drilled in what to do, and had little trouble getting through it.

Fast-forward 12 months and that lack of familiarity with zone defence was telling. The trademark Australian speed of attacking play was missing, and the midcourt of Kim Ravallion and Madi Robinson looked out of sorts and out of ideas.

Too often they ended up in the same space, with neither prepared to run the decoy to open space. Robinson has paid the price for this by being dropped for the Constellation Cup, and Ravallion will know she is on notice.

The good news is the Diamonds have four matches against the Silver Ferns to not only make amends for their Quad Series performance but to work towards some positive form heading towards the Commonwealth Games.

The shake-up in the shooting line-up will help. Out go goal attacks Tegan Phillip and Gretel Tippett, who were always slated to play the Quad Series only, to be replaced by Steph Wood and Susan Pettit. Both Wood and Pettit are playmakers, and smart enough to change the speed of the game at crucial times.

Their inclusion will make the world of difference to the Diamonds' front line, and so expect to see more space opened up to take the pressure off the Caitlins – Bassett and Thwaites – in goals.

It will be fascinating to see how each team fronts up, given their vastly different lead-ins.

Australia have had a four-week hiatus, broken only by training, whereas New Zealand fought out a tough series with England.

This will make the Kiwis battle-hardened and, given their results, rightly confident. It may, however, also make them tired, and the Diamonds may need to play a waiting game, wearing the Silver Ferns down to take advantage of any fatigue.