Both sides used the opportunity to test drive experimental line-ups, but it was the Australians who responded best when the pressure went on in the last 15 minutes.
Ahead 15-14 at the end of the first quarter, and 28-27 at halftime, the Silver Ferns' concentration wavered briefly in the third quarter and they trailed 40-42 as the Australians scored the last three goals before the whistle.
It was just the sniff of victory the newly named Diamonds needed and although New Zealand battled back in the last minutes of the final quarter, they couldn't pressure the final turnover they needed and Australia hung on for a hard-earned win.
Although Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken said there were plenty of positives to take from the match, she also admitted her team were possibly still struggling with the memory of last November's four-goal loss at the world championship in Auckland.
"There was a little amount of nervousness from our side -- I don't think we quite got the intensity we needed on defence, but it certainly wasn't for the want of trying. I felt there was a bit of a monkey on the back," Aitken said afterwards.
Both coaches settled for experimental line-ups -- Australian Norma Plummer because she had little choice, following retirements and a swathe of injuries -- and New Zealand's Ruth Aitken as she works towards wresting the world championship title back in 2011.
A late ankle injury to Australia's No 1 shooter Catherine Cox gave Kate Beveridge her first international cap, and Kim Green made her debut at wing attack as the Australians fielded a team which had just 115 caps to the New Zealand's 328.
Consequently, the Australian attack wasn't quite at its fast-paced, one-handed best -- in fact, there was an almost measured and uncharacteristically patient look about it. But that willingness to wait for the opening, to maintain possession, paid dividends.
Where New Zealand engineered turnovers, too often they were lost before shooters Irene van Dyk and Maria Tutaia had a chance to convert them. The Australians played the percentages, worked the ball around, and -- eventually -- sunk the goals.
New Zealand's attack also had a fresh look about it. Midcourter Adine Wilson has retired since November, and former wing defence Laura Langman has moved from centre to wing attack with panache, leaving Aitken to ponder the possibilities of cloning the 22-year-old and playing her in all three positions.
Van Dyk has also shown another string to her bow, playing her first test at goal attack and letting Tutaia build confidence at goal shoot. If the Silver Ferns can find a way of getting the ball through in sufficient quantities, it is a combination that can win tests.
Aitken admitted as much at a philosophical press conference afterwards.
"Obviously in our first test match for 10 months it didn't exactly flow as we'd like. But I thought there were some great passages of play both on attack and defence -- it's just stringing them together at the right time that's the challenge.
"We have some awesome shooters, so we need to give them a supply of ball and they'll nail it."
Aitken said the Silver Ferns had been well-pressured by the Diamonds as the game progressed and their decision making had been found wanting at times, something she hoped to rectify before Saturday's game in Auckland.
"The reality is Australia put great pressure on every phase of ball, and I think some of our judgements weren't quite what they needed to be. But I think that will come with greater links and time together."
