The Kiwi Ferns are ready to steal the Rugby League World Cup off their trans-Tasman rivals, as they bid for their first title in 14 years next month.
The NZ women boast plenty of experience, with talent across the park, headlined by NRLW Dally M medallist Raecene McGregor.
The bulk of the 24-strong squad are also coming off an NRLW campaign that sees them battle-hardened against their Australian counterparts, with the sides meeting in pool play on November 11 (NZ time) at York.
Coach Ricky Henry is pleased with the squad he's assembled and admits confidence is growing among the group.
"Yeah, stoked for the ladies that have made the squad," Henry told Newshub. "We've got a great squad I believe.
"Everyone I spoke to over the phone when I let them know they were in the squad was very proud and emotional."
After winning three straight titles from 2000-08, the Kiwi Ferns have been runners-up twice, forced to watch on as the Jillaroos lifted the trophy in 2013 & 2017.
As well as planning for the future, Henry says the squad have their sights set on putting a stop to Australia's dominance in England.
"It's been a long time between drinks so to speak," Henry concedes. "We haven't won it for a few years and Australia, at the moment, have got a strong hold on that.
"We'll go in there to put our best foot forward and try to bring this Cup home. For us, we punch above our weight and have done for a while.
"We think we've got a great team and we've got some great leaders. As I mentioned, we've got the best player in the NRLW at the moment."
McGregor had an outstanding season with the Roosters and Henry says her performances - and those of a host of others who set the NRLW alight this season - will bring plenty of confidence to the rest of the group.
"She's made every post a winner, I guess," Henry remarked. "We're really looking forward to her being part of our team.
"Amber Hall has also been named Player of the Day in Grand Finals in previous years. Between those two, there's some really good experience.
"On the back of their confidence, we'll definitely leverage that and go into the games we play with confidence."
Throw in there electric players like winger Madison Bartlett and fullback Autumn-Rain Stephens Daily, as well as experienced captain Krystal Rota, and it's not hard to see the potential of this Kiwi Ferns side.
Henry admits the flourishing NRLW competition has rapidly taken the women's game to new heights and hopes to see the results of that on the world stage.
"The competition has definitely gone to a totally different level. It's a bridging of how the game used to be unprofessional versus professional and merging those together.
"For example, you take Georgia Hale, who played local football and hasn't been involved, many years anyway, in the professional era, but then you've got these younger players Otesa Pule and Hailee-Jay Maunsell, who have only known that. It's about trying to bring those together.
"From our perspective, that's the way of the future. The way the game's evolving, for the women's game, it's pretty promising for years ahead."
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