Netball's longest standing rivalry is set to come to a head again on Thursday when the Diamonds face the Silver Ferns in Melbourne.

The world's very first international netball Test was played between the two countries back in 1938, and this year's four-match Constellation Cup will mark the 13th series held since the concept was introduced in 2010.

Australia has been the more dominant side, but the last two series have been particularly tight.

New Zealand lifted the trophy in 2021 for the first time in nine years (3-1) and were forced to hand it back to the Diamonds in 2022 after last year's contest was determined by goal difference (2-2).

With that in mind, there is perhaps even more riding on the Constellation Cup this time around, considering the teams haven't met at either of netball's recent major tournaments.

Netball fans have become so used to watching a hard-fought trans-Tasman clash typically decide the World Cup and Commonwealth Games finals, and while Australia managed to win both the 2022 Birmingham and 2023 South Africa events, New Zealand instead claimed bronze at the Games and failed to medal at the World Cup.

For the Silver Ferns, this is their chance to test their capabilities against the new world champions and redeem their reputation as the other top-two ranked team globally.

Amy Parmenter missed selection for the series, but the centrally contracted Diamonds midcourter has been in camp with the team helping them prepare.

She has also today been named to play in the preceding three-match series against South Africa.

"I'm so excited about being selected for that South African series, I feel like I've been in and out of the team so I'll never take it for granted because it can be so fleeting," Parmenter said.

"It's such a good environment at the moment, they've come off the high of winning the World Cup and you'd expect their mentality to be: 'We've won that and the Commonwealth Games, we've done it all,' but it's all about 'how can we be better?'

"There's an even higher level of expectation."

Fans were disappointed to hear Parmenter had missed out on the Constellation Cup, as it was commonly thought she might be the next specialist wing defence in line to replace Ash Brazill now the veteran had retired.

Instead, the Diamonds chose Kate Moloney who switches between all three midcourt positions in club land, played a significant role at the Commonwealth Games, and was a reserve for the World Cup.

"You always want to be a part of the team, but I respect their decision and I don't think it's ever a given that you just walk into someone's spot," Parmenter said.

"From everything I heard, Kate was un-faultable as a World Cup reserve, she just gave everything over there, and I think she deserves to get a run."

Has the CPA dispute been distracting for players?

Several off-court issues have threatened to distract the Diamonds from their international commitments during the past 12 months.

This time last year it was the Hancock sponsorship controversy, then right before the World Cup, Netball Australia and players clashed over Diamonds' pay.

Now, this tension has continued into the Super Netball CPA negotiations – the two sides are clashing over a sponsorship revenue-share or profit-share model – but no matter the obstacle, the team has still managed to win every trophy put in front of them and Parmenter expects the Constellation Cup will be the same.