After the recent return of two of its veteran stars, the Silver Ferns "are back", says former Australian netballer Liz Ellis.
Earlier in the week, New Zealand named both Laura Langman and Casey Kopua in their squad for the upcoming international quad series.
Langman hasn't played for the Ferns in over two years after choosing to join the Australian domestic competition, while Kopua is coming out of retirement after three years away from the sport.
Ellis believes their addition is enough to lift the Silver Ferns out of one of its darkest periods, which saw them crash to fourth at the Commonwealth Games and a 4-0 sweep in the Constellation Cup.
"I think you can put a big neon side around them and say they're back," Ellis told Andrew Gourdie on Radio LIVE's Sunday Sport.
"[At the Commonwealths] there were players there who were trying, but what they lacked was just a little bit of depth and leadership. It looked like Katrina Grant was trying to do it all on her own.
"Having Casey Kopua back in defence gives them such a spark, and having Laura Langman is immeasurable in terms of what she brings both on and off the court.
"You have to look at the SF now and they are vastly improved from what they put out at the Commonwealth Games."
However, following the resignation of Janine Southby, the Ferns are still without a coach, which is what the Ellis calls "the missing ingredient".
Langman's return to the team would suggest that now Southby is no longer in charge, the door is open for her coach at the Sunshine Coast Lightning, Noeline Taurua.
Ellis has been hearing those same rumours swirling on her side of the Tasman, but suggests there are a few hoops left to jump through in order for that to materialise.
"There are whispers that [Taurua] is the next Silver Ferns coach, but I spoke to Sunshine Coast Lightning CEO Danielle Smith earlier this week …she was adamant that she committed to next year.
Coaching a team in World Cup year and a club team in the toughest domestic competition in the world would be two very full-on jobs, so there's a fair bit of logistics to work out."
The 122-test international said there were still some deficiencies for NZ in regards to their shooting, a weakness which may be less glaring against an inexperienced Diamonds defence.
"There are some problems for the Silver Ferns in the shooting line, in terms of making sure they have two shooters who are able to turn and go to the post and make that play.
"But if you look at the Australian defensive line, it's probably where the least experience is. So, they might match up pretty well."
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