England brace for Diamonds backlash

England coach Tracey Neville is laughing off claims from Australia that revenge isn't a factor in their Commonwealth Games gold medal rematch in Newcastle.

Wednesday's clash is set to decide the Quad Series after the world's two top-ranked teams powered to opening-round wins in Auckland on Saturday.

The world champion Diamonds put a stuttering start behind them to beat South Africa 61-44 before England's defence smothered a new-look New Zealand 52-39.

It was the biggest win the Roses have recorded over the Silver Ferns, suggesting their gold medal at the Games in April was no fluke.

Diamonds coach Lisa Alexander insists she won't be driven by the ghosts of their one-goal loss in the decider on the Gold Coast.

"We can't be putting our minds back to what happened, otherwise we won't be brave and courageous about this new group," she told AAP.

"This is a new team, it really is, and we just have to put that behind us and think the next 12 months really (to the World Cup) and that's what we're concentrating on."

Neville was bemused by Alexander's attitude, saying it contrasted with previous comments out of the Diamonds camp.

Laughter was the first response when asked if she expected to face a motivated Australian team.

"I'm thinking yeah," she said.

"We're not expecting the Aussies to let up on us. Lisa has quite publicly said in the press that she's gunning for us.

"And she wants that gold medal at the World Cup as much as us.

"We'll go out with our game plan and I'm sure the girls will not let me down, like they've not done so far."

A sign of how far England have come was Nevillie's displeasure at the performance against a New Zealand side whose shooting accuracy was a weakness in their first game under new coach Noeline Taurua.

Neville said her own team's attacking was substandard and a repeat against the Diamonds would be fatal.

"We can sharpen up our game because there were particular aspects that we really struggled with," she said.

"Even though it wasn't our best performance, the way they gritted it out together, the way they played as friends, they've just got an expectation on themselves and it's something I'm walking away really proud of."

Alexander, likewise, gave her team a pass mark, with the bright second-half showing against the Proteas an ideal springboard into next week.

"Just getting back together as a national team, it takes a little while to get the timing, the intensity of the competition and get the nerves right," she said.

"The cobwebs are gone now so on and upwards."