Aussies hold edge over Silver Ferns - Liz Ellis

Liz Ellis believes Australia hold a mental edge over the Silver Ferns in crunch moments but says tomorrow night's second test in Wellington remains too close to call.

New Zealand folded in the final quarter of the first test in Adelaide, outscored 13-7 by the hosts, who won 48-43 to draw first blood in the best-of-three series.

Former Australia great Ellis said the Silver Ferns would struggle to halt the momentum in Wellington, despite the presence of 3600 one-eyed fans.

"I don't know if it was mental or physical, but you just had the feeling that the Aussies were going to get over the line," Ellis said.

"I guess it's a whole mindset change that's going to have to happen for the Silver Ferns and it certainly won't help that they've had that early loss."

New Zealand need a win at TSB Bank Arena to keep alive their chances of claiming the new Constellation Cup by forcing a decider in game three in Auckland.

Of course the bigger prize is the Commonwealth Games gold medal and Ellis said the Adelaide win would further boost the confidence in the Australian camp. "It will help the Aussies.

"When it's close, the girls will just know that they're able to win those close ones and every time you get a young, inexperienced team, that's exactly what you want to do.

"There's some older heads in that lineup for the Diamonds but there's also some younger players and you want them to get used to winning the close ones."

Key to Australia's fourth-quarter domination in Adelaide was Australia's substitute defender Susan Fuhrmann, who used her 1.96m (6ft 5in) frame to good effect and held veteran Silver Ferns shooter Irene van Dyk to two goals from four attempts.

Ellis, regarded as one of the world's best defenders, expected New Zealand to make the necessary adjustments by tomorrow night to cope better with Fuhrmann.

"To be honest, I think it could go either way. They were doing really well and delivering the ball into the circle well but, as soon as you get a new defender on, you've got to think about where that change comes.

"I'd love for the Australians to win 3-0 but I'm not into writing off the Ferns, to be honest."

Ellis pointed out that Fuhrmann at times struggles to gain a start for the West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championship and can be worked over by mobile, speedy shooters.

"If I had to point out a weakness, that would be it. But it doesn't seem to me that New Zealand have too many of those. She's certainly a real horses-for-courses defender.

"She's someone that matches up well against Irene van Dyk so whether Norma [Australia coach Norma Plummer] chooses to play her for a full match or to bring her on as an impact player, I don't know."

- © Fairfax NZ News