Diamonds players offered World Cup carrot

Australian coach Lisa Alexander has effectively dangled tickets to the World Cup in front of her players if they perform in the Quad Series.

In their last major tournament ahead of the sport's showpiece in Liverpool in July, the Diamonds have been told to prove themselves all over again.

Alexander has effectively selected the same group who clinched a second straight Quad Series crown in Australasia in September before beating New Zealand 3-1 to retain the Constellation Cup.

They can virtually cement World Cup selection if everything clicks during the three Tests in England over the next week, starting with fifth-ranked South Africa in Liverpool on Monday morning (AEDT).

"Obviously Test matches are a huge part of selection. If players perform well in this tournament then that's a great pointer for us that we're picking the right athletes," Alexander told AAP.

"But we have a number of athletes back home that could make the team."

Alexander nominated experienced midcourter Kim Ravaillion as one player not in the current group who could force an opening, both at an Australian camp in March and then again in the first month of Super Netball before a World Cup squad is unveiled in late May.

Most of her 13-strong tour group should get court time against the Proteas but Alexander may be more clinical in the stiffer Tests against New Zealand and England in London.

Of interest will be her approach at goal attack, where Steph Wood was surpassed by Gretel Tippett by the end of the Constellation Cup series.

Alexander is delighted to have two excellent options to work alongside captain Caitlin Bassett in the shooting circle.

Wood's speed and option-taking contrasts with the aerial prowess of former WNBL player Tippett.

"The fact that we have the ability to change up the type of player that we have at goal attack means that we're more unpredictable," Alexander said.

"So it's harder for other teams to figure out how they're going to match up on us. That's a great luxury to have."

Alexander was pleased with her players' fitness levels despite the Quad Series falling in the middle of their off-season.

"The mental and skills work won't be quite there because the girls haven't come off a domestic season of netball," she said.

"That's where you've got a little bit of scratchiness around the teamwork."

In the equivalent tournament 12 months ago, Australia snuck past South Africa and England by four goals each before thumping the Silver Ferns by 19.