Steel influence
Coming off a dominant ANZ Premiership, it will be interesting to see how much influence the Southern Steel players have on the national team. Shannon Francois, Gina Crampton, Jane Watson and Te Paea Selby-Rickit were among the standouts of this year's domestic league. With the latter three having first come into the Ferns' squad last year, they will be looking to establish themselves further just seven months out from the Commonwealth Games.
Height issues
It became the big talking point of last season: how do you stop Caitlin Bassett, Australia's 1.97m goal shoot? With just one defender above 1.90m - Kelly Jury - it looks as if it will be an obstacle to overcome again for the Silver Ferns. Their defenders had plenty of practice against the 1.98m Jhaniele Fowler-Reid this year - although without much success, as the Jamaican proved virtually unstoppable.
Young midcourt
Aside from Shannon Francois, who has 35 test caps, the midcourt for the Quad Series has a very inexperienced look to it. Gina Crampton and Sam Sinclair have 12 caps between them, while Whitney Souness is a newcomer. You have to take the step at some stage though, and perhaps now is as good a time as any. For Crampton, especially, it is a chance to become the clear first-choice wing attack. Grace Rasmussen is set to challenge her for the bib on her return for the Taini Jamison Trophy.
Contrasting styles
Without the regular exposure to the Australian style of play during the year, how the players adapt will be of interest. Playing in the transtasman league, New Zealand teams bought more and more into the physical Australian style of play, going away from their traditional open, free-flowing game. That has changed this season, with the split in the domestic leagues. How the two styles clash will be of great interest when the teams meet.
Point to prove
A few pundits across the Tasman have suggested the Silver Ferns will fail to make next year's Commonwealth Games final. That must get them motivated and Katrina Grant has already been reported as saying it ``lights a bit of a fire''. With five games against England over the next month - the Ferns' biggest competition in their pool at the Games - they will be keen to make a statement seven months out.
