OPINION: For the Silver Ferns and their fans, beating Australia is an obsession.
You can understand why when you look at the history between the sides.
Battle of the captains: Laura Geitz (left) and Casey Kopua. Photo: PHOTOSPORT / RNZ
"Heart-breaking" is an overused term in sport, but in the case of the Ferns it pretty much sums up their famous rivalry with the reigning world champions.
When the two sides kick off their Netball World Cup campaigns in Sydney tomorrow, the Australian Diamonds will be aiming to add an 11th world title to their record.
Of the 13 world cups played since 1963, Australia have pipped the Silver Ferns on seven occasions.
Since the finals format was introduced in 1991, the two countries have been involved in five of the six world cup grand finals, with no more than four goals separating them.
When you consider that as many as 100 goals can be scored in a game, to lose by a couple of goals is a cruel blow.
The sting of narrow defeat was never felt more intensely than four years ago in Singapore, when New Zealand lost to Australia by one goal in extra time.
The last time the Silver Ferns tasted World Cup glory was in 2003 in Jamaica.
Since then the side has been blessed with some of the sport's greatest players of their era: centre court dynamo Laura Langman, fierce defender Casey Kopua, and shooting star Maria Tutaia.
It seems almost wrong that these players could end their careers without a world title to their names and time is running out for some of them.
Is the famous rivalry under threat?
As long as anyone can remember, New Zealand and Australia have gone into the World Cup just about neck and neck.
This time the Diamonds are the clear favourites, following their 18 goal victory of the Silver Ferns at the Commonwealth Games last year, and a 19-game winning streak.
Jo Harten, playing for England in 2012. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
While the Silver Ferns haven't beaten Australia in nine games, other sides have emerged as challengers to the Diamonds.
Many commentators believe England will make a statement at the World Cup.
Perhaps though, they missed their best chance at the Commonwealth Games last year in Glasgow when they lost to both the Diamonds and Ferns by solitary goals, to miss out on a maiden final.
Former Australian great Liz Ellis believes Jamaica is more dangerous and has the best chance of unseating the holders.
It's believed that former Australian coach Jill McIntosh has instilled some much-needed discipline in to the side, in her role as technical director.
Whether they can make the most of their firepower through prodigious shooters Jhaniele Fowler-Reid and Romelda Aiken, remains to be seen.
Jamaica's Romelda Aiken, seen here playing for the Queensland Firebirds. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
If this year's World Cup doesn't end in a New Zealand-Australia final, it might not be a bad thing for world netball.
As much as we might want to see the legendary rivalry continue, it would be a welcome sight for those in charge of the game internationally for it to let up a bit.
For so long, the elite level of the sport has been dominated by two teams and the predictability has probably been to the detriment of the game.
