Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken believes there is reason to feel optimistic despite her side's heartbreaking 47-46 loss to Australia in Invercargill yesterday.
The defeat means Australia has taken a 3-1 lead in the five-game series.
It is hard to put a positive spin on a third consecutive loss to the world champion, especially when the defeat is still so fresh, but Aitken was looking on the bright side.
"It was an incredible game," Aitken said.
"We kept coming back at them . . . then eased off, then came back again.
"It's just that ability for us to nail the crucial moments, really, and we didn't quite do it."
But there were signs the Silver Ferns had made improvements, and any signs of progress before the Commonwealth Games next year and world championships in 2011 had to be viewed with optimism.
"There is huge disappointment we've lost the series and the game by one [goal].
"But, in terms of where our growth is as a team, I can really see that there is some real improvement.
"I thought the forward court went so much better than last week. I thought there was a real step up, which was good."
Aitken said the links between the midcourt and the shooting end functioned with greater accuracy, and goal shoot Irene van Dyk was more mobile.
"I thought the movement that Irene put into her game really made a lot of difference. She actually has a really good dodge on her, just sometimes she keeps it in her back pocket."
Pressure has been mounting on the 37-year-old after a couple of disappointing performances.
But, by and large, van Dyk answered her critics with a solid performance, landing 27 of her 30 attempts yesterday.
"She was very disappointed after last week. She is a real professional and comes out and wants to make sure she does it right," Aitken said.
The sides meet in the final match of the series in Auckland on Wednesday night.
