Esra McGoldrick of New Zealand Photo: MARK EVANS
New Tall Ferns coach Nat Hurst has been dealt a tough hand against her former side for Trans-Tasman Throwdown.
Hurst's first official series in charge of the Tall Ferns is one of the toughest tests she will face in her head coaching career.
The inaugural Trans-Tasman Throwdown pits New Zealand against Australia in three games over five days in two countries.
Australia are ranked second in the FIBA rankings and the 26th-ranked Tall Ferns have not beaten their rivals since 2008.
In 54 games between the Tall Ferns and Opals dating back to 1958, New Zealand has won five times.
The timing of the Throwdown series, which tips off on 7 May, means Hurst has been forced to name a playing roster that is lacking experience. The most experienced Tall Ferns are currently playing overseas or are unavailable for national team duty.
In a 15-person squad there are eight players who have never played for the senior side, six players who have played five tests or less and the most experienced player, Esra McGoldrick, has pulled on the black singlet 19 times.
"Winning is not the most important thing for us right now," Hurst said.
"We've got a whole new system to put in, a bunch of girls that have either not met or not seen each other for a long time, staff that they don't know. So I think it's about a lot more than just what happens on the basketball court for us in the next couple of weeks.
"We want to have depth in all positions, we want people to feel comfortable but also feel uncomfortable so we can continue to improve as individuals to make our team better."
Playing in Adelaide on Wednesday, the Sunshine Coast on Friday, and Hamilton on Sunday will replicate the kind of pressure a playing group would be under in FIBA tournaments even though the Throwdown is for nothing more than bragging rights.
"Tournament play is tough and if we want to do anything good with where we want to go we need to be able to have success in tournament play.
"If we were actually going to a tournament we'd be probably a little bit more strategic about how many minutes we play here, who plays here, and that kind of thing but being that the results aren't really what we're worried about I think it'll be, just when we're tired, who's mentally tough to just push through.
"You know we're at the 30th minute in game three, and everyone's running on empty tanks, like, who can push through that? We're looking for that, the extras that we can bring, so we do know that when it's tough in tournament play, that there are players that we can rely on and we'll see who can bring that in this friendly series."
Pahlyss Hokianga-Heather drives to the hoop during the Tall Ferns game against Montenegro Photo: FIBA
The Opals claimed the bronze medal at last year's Paris Olympics - a feat that the Tall Ferns can only dream of at this stage. The last time New Zealand were at the Olympics was 17 years ago.
Hurst, a former Opals player, said the Tall Ferns would be "silly not to" see what they could replicate from the Opals programme across the ditch.
"I think the biggest thing you see is the way they came together at the Olympics after losing game one. Obviously their culture is in a really good place and for me that's where ours needs to start.
"We need to build that to have any success on the court."
The Throwdown is double-headers with the New Zealand and Australian men's teams and will be the first time the Tall Ferns had played at home in five years.
"We do want to beat each other and I think there's a whole lot of respect there as well. I hope that we just give the Opals a tough time and they walk away going, Oh, look out New Zealand basketball is on the rise."
Tall Ferns roster for Trans-Tasman Throwdown
Ella Bradley, Northern Kāhu & University of Texas - Tyler, debutant
Ella Brow, Southern Methodist University, debutant
McKenna Dale, Tauranga Whai & Mandurah Magic, 5 games
Bailey Flavell, Northern Kāhu & Launceston Tornadoes, 3 games
Tegan Graham, VFL AstroStars Bochum, debutant
Keriana Hippolite, Tokomanawa Queens & Brisbane Capitals, debutant
Pahlyss Hokianga, Tauranga Whai, 5 games
Tylah Hooper, Melbourne Tigers, debutant
Waiata Jennings, University of Alabama, debutant
Esra McGoldrick, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers, 19 games
Sharne Robati, Mainland Pouākai & Casey Cavaliers, 2 games
Emme Shearer, University of Portland, debutant
Kaylee Smiler, Tauranga Whai, debutant
Ashlee Strawbridge, Mainland Pouākai & West Adelaide Bearcats, 3 games
Ella Tofaeono, Melbourne Tigers, 3 games
Opals roster for Trans-Tasman Throwdown
Sara Blicavs, Nyadiew Puoch, Isobel Borlase, Stephanie Reid, Abbey Ellis, Maddison Rocci, Alexandra Fowler, Lauren Scherf, Keely Froling, Alexandra Sharp, Miela Sowah, Courtney Woods.
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