Australian goal shooter Caitlin Bassett says the Diamonds can't afford another lacklustre performance if they want to beat arch-rivals New Zealand in their opening netball Test in Perth on Sunday.
The Australians completed a three-game series sweep against England on Sunday, but only won the final match by four goals.
Bassett was Australia's world championship hero in Singapore in July, shooting the winning goal in extra time of the final against the Silver Ferns.
Bassett believed the Diamonds made too many errors and were unable to convert enough of their turnovers.
She said to win again, they would have to vastly improve.
"We really can't perform the way that we did again against New Zealand," the 23-year-old said.
"Although the Poms really took it up and challenged us, it was a really good match for us before we play New Zealand."
Bassett started the game with her new Perth Fever teammate, Catherine Cox, who is the stand-in Australian captain with Natalie von Bertouch still sidelined with a foot injury.
While the Australian shooters were slightly below par, there's more concern over the defensive end of the court, with goal defence Julie Corletto limping off at halftime with a corked thigh.
Corletto is no certainty to face the Silver Ferns, while fellow defenders Laura Geitz and Mo'onia Gerrard still have to pass fitness tests on their injured calves.
While they reclaimed the mantle of world No.1 from New Zealand with the world championship win, Bassett said the Australians were still hungry for success.
Good friends with some of the Perth-based Wallabies, who were eliminated by New Zealand on Sunday at the Rugby World Cup, Bassett said she could feel their pain.
"It's obviously devastating, we know how it feels," Bassett said.
"We're always really hungry to beat New Zealand.
"Even though we beat them last time, we want to show them that we're world No.1 and we should be world No.1."
The two teams will complete their series with games in Adelaide on Oct 26 and Melbourne on Oct 30.
