Jamaican netball coach Connie Francis isn't pulling her punches ahead of tomorrow's opening test against the Silver Ferns in Christchurch.
After going winless across the Tasman against Australia - the last loss a 40-71 walloping on the Gold Coast three days ago - Francis has let her team know in no uncertain terms that she expects better. A lot better.
"We have let ourselves down, but some of us still have a chance to correct some of the mistakes we've made, and make that Commonwealth Games team," she said today.
Admittedly, the Sunshine Girls are missing a clutch of top players - goal attack and midcourt maestro Simone Forbes is a real loss, but she will return for the Commonwealth Games, as will gritty defender Althea Byfield, currently out with a shoulder injury.
But Francis is quite clear that her team's efforts in Australia have been sub-standard, with some players expected to shine falling well short.
Heading that category is 1.96m shooter Romelda Aiken, who was consistently superb for Queensland Firebirds in the trans-Tasman netball league this year, but has so far failed to replicate that form for her country.
"This is the worse I've seen her play," Francis said before the Jamaicans took to the training court this afternoon. "She was better coming out of the ANZ Championships last year.
"The difference is having her home before a championship, it would help us to bring her back to our ways."
Francis said Aiken's excuse was that her trans-Tasman league coaches "allowed her to do anything".
"But for me, as a coach, I'd like her to do exactly what has worked for us before, and improve on it."
Aiken's rejuvenation was a work in progress, she added, with the shooter more confident in her shot and in her stance. Coaching staff were now looking to her to take on more of a leader's role in guiding her young teammates.
Francis was confident Aiken would show real improvement against the Silver Ferns, as the Jamaicans try to build momentum towards the Commonwealth Games in October.
"The aim is Delhi, but we have to put a little bit more pride in our game, because we're letting ourselves down as a team. We're playing well below our standards, especially some of the senior players who have been there and done that," Francis said.
"The person who really feels it is Nadine (Bryan), our captain, because she knows it's really embarrassing to come here and do so badly."
Despite the less than impressive results to date, Francis points out with some validity, that New Zealand and Australia are always keen to play the unpredictable Jamaicans. The reason?
"We are a venom to them and they know what we can do to them," she said, only half joking.
That was obvious back in October, when the Silver Ferns travelled to Kingston for two tests, winning the first by five then losing the second by three.
And if Francis can blood her youngsters, push the Silver Ferns tomorrow and on Saturday in Napier, she is hugely confident of putting together a dangerous team for the Commonwealth Games.
Forbes will be back, Byfield will be back, and - it now seems - Adelaide Thunderbirds shooter Carla Borrego will also return to the Jamaican fold for New Delhi, much to Francis' delight.
"Carla's back into our squad, so there's more venom for New Zealand and Australia!"
