Jamaica's goal shooter Romelda Aiken prepares to shoot as she stands before Australia's goalkeeper Susan Fuhrmann during the opening game of their two-Test Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre last Saturday. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Fresh from their spectacular and thrilling one-point victory over world number-one Australia, Jamaica's Sunshine Girls will be hoping to maintain their momentum today when they face New Zealand in the opening match of their two-Test National Commercial Bank (NCB) Sunshine Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre. Game time is 7:15 p.m.

The Jamaicans edged Australia 56-55 to level their two-Test series at 1-1 on Sunday. The victory was a first over the Australians since 1998 and, in the process, avenged Saturday night's 51-53 loss to the Aussies.

Head coach Connie Francis is looking forward to this showdown against the Kiwis, very keen to turn the tables on their long-time foes.

"The girls are eager for the game and they believe in themselves. New Zealand have always been a thorn in our sides and we have always had some great encounters with them. I think at the level that they are at now, we think we can beat them," said Francis, whose team's shooting revolves around the tall Romelda Aitken and captain Simone Forbes.

The Jamaica coach is aware of where the dangers lie and said her girls will be prepared to counter the New Zealand game plan.

"We believe that their strength lies in their attack and so our defensive team will be working very hard to shut them down," Francis said. "We have to continue working hard and believe in ourselves and execute all our game plan."

Francis added they had a good training session yesterday and are upbeat.

"We believe that if we compete hard and stay in the game and if we execute well in our shooting, then we should be able to win the match."

The New Zealanders, who edged the Sunshine Girls to the gold medal in the final of the just-concluded World Fast Net Series Championships in Manchester, England, arrived in the island last Friday and will be looking to continue their dominance over the locals.

They defeated the Sunshine Girls 2-0 in their last series in 2005 and according to their coach, Ruth Aitken, they are optimistic of repeating that feat.

Confident

"We are very confident but we have to be realistic because we know that Jamaica are very talented and if we don't perform at our best, we are going to let them into the game," said Aiken.

"We are expecting a torrid battle in these two Test matches because we are looking to finish the season really well. But we know that playing at home, Jamaica are a real force," Aitken said.

Continuing, the New Zealand coach noted that Jamaica have a good all-round team because they are extremely athletic and powerful, so they will going all out at them from the opening whistle.

"I think that we have strength throughout our team because I think that we have one of the best defenders in the world in Casey Williams and one of the best shooters in the game, Irene Van Dyke, but we have to produce on court," Aitken said.