The pressure is on the country's top netball players to step up this ANZ Premiership season, if they want to make the cut for the upcoming Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
With several existing Silver Ferns already ruled out, there are lots of positions up for grabs.
But it's an opportunity former Australian Kristiana Manu'a is looking to grab with both hands.
The last time the Silver Ferns took to the court in this year's England Quad Series, things didn't exactly go to plan.
A hiding against Australia, a blowout against England and a lacklustre showing against South Africa were examples of just how much work the Ferns have to do.
And now with experienced heads Katrina Rore and Jane Watson unavailable due to pregnancy, the coaching staff are desperate for players to step up.
One player already doing that is former Australian Kristiana Manu'a.
"Kris has been wonderful," says Central Pulse high performance director Waimarama Taumaunu.
"All the new people into the environment have, but Kris has brought a maturity and hard nosed-ness which has been very valuable."
The powerful defender has returned to her city of birth, to play for the Pulse after five years across the Tasman with the Giants in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball league.
"Any transition to a new country away from your family is always difficult," Manu'a told Newshub.
"But for me, it was an opportunity I wasn't going to let pass."
Tall, mobile and an aggressive ball-hunter, Manu'a was part of the Australian Diamonds team for the 2016 Netball Quad Series.
But because she hasn't played for them since, the 26 year-old is now eligible for the Silver Ferns.
"It's an exciting prospect," she added. "But my idea of coming over here was to get game time, have a good season, I haven't had that in a while so that's my focus but you know whatever happens in the future, happens."
And she's no stranger to the New Zealand competition either, after making her elite level domestic debut with the Magic in 2015 during the former trans-Tasman league.
"I think they just want me to play how I play, and go out there, have a good season and be a leader for the team in my own right."
Her leadership and experience may just be what the Silver Ferns need to contend for gold in Birmingham.
