Diamonds have much more to give: Bruce

Oct 7, 2017 - 5:29 AM Diamonds defender Courtney Bruce insists Australia still have so much more to give heading into their second Constellation Cup netball Test against New Zealand.

The world champions shaded the Silver Ferns 57-54 in Auckland in Thursday's opener in Auckland.

It was payback for the 10-goal loss New Zealand inflicted upon them in their Quad Series encounter in Invercargill last month.

The four-match series continues on Sunday in Christchurch, where Australia have lost just two of 20 Tests

While Australia led for almost the entire game in Auckland, the Ferns crept within within one goal in a tense final quarter.

"We all took a lot of confidence away from that win, we know that we have a few more steps to take," Bruce told AAP.

"Defensively we think we had a really good first half and we're happy with what we put out there.

"But we think we all know there's so much more to give and improve on.

"We probably let them creep in a little bit towards the end.

"(We're) excited to know we've got another few big steps to take."

Bruce said coach Lisa Alexander wanted her players to improve in shutting down the Silver Ferns and work harder to generate more turnovers.

The 23-year-old Bruce nonetheless appreciated the efforts of her teammates on other lines in slowing down the passage of the ball to the Ferns shooters..

"Pressure all the way down the court was amazing," she said.

"We'd worked a lot on it in training, having the shooters and our middies working just as hard as we (the defence end) are.

"They did a fantastic job, By the time the ball got down to me, it was slowed down quite considerably, so it always makes my life a lot easier."

Four Tests into her blossoming international career, West Coast Fever defender Bruce is making her presence felt, though she is still coming to terms with being a Diamond.

"It's really exciting, something I've been working towards for a while and it's still a shock every time I step out there," she said.

'But I'm loving every opportunity that Lisa has given me and trying to take it with strong hands."

Following the match in Christchurch the series moves to Australia, with Tests in Adelaide on Wednesday and Sydney three days later.

Netball Australia has confirmed the Diamonds' 12 players for Sunday's 2nd Test in Christchurch:

* Caitlin Bassett (Sunshine Coast Lightning)

* April Brandley (Collingwood Magpies)

* Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)

* Emily Mannix (Melbourne Vixens)

* Kate Moloney (Vixens)

* Susan Pettitt (GIANTS Netball)

* Kim Ravaillion (Magpies)

* Gabi Simpson (Queensland Firebirds)

* Caitlin Thwaites (Magpies)

* Liz Watson (Vixens)

* Jo Weston (Vixens)

* Stephanie Wood (Lightning)

Source: AAP