The Diamonds know they will have to take their game to another level to wrest back the Constellation Cup from New Zealand, despite their comfortable series win over South Africa .

The four-Test series against the Silver Ferns begins in Melbourne on Friday night, with the world champion Diamonds out to make amends for a disappointing 2024 campaign.

They lost the first three Tests against their trans-Tasman rivals last year, before triumphing in the final game of the series.

It was the Silver Ferns' first series win since 2021 and just their third since the trophy went on the line in 2010.

Both teams enter this year's battle on the back of three-Test clean sweeps over South Africa.

The Silver Ferns played September's series against the Proteas without their decorated coach, Dame Noeli

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