The Spar Proteas bounced back from their defeat to Jamaica on Monday with a resounding victory over Trinidad & Tobago despite not having goal shooter, Lenize Potgieter, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament with an injury.

Ahead of Wednesday’s clash against New Zealand, Spar Proteas’ Nichole Taljaard has revealed she is not nervous ahead of facing the Silver Ferns but rather she is looking forward to the match with great anticipation.

"When preparing for a match, I don’t look at the team, and focus on them, I focus on our team and our strengths and I stand by myself and the team around me as we try to bring out our strengths to beat what they have," Taljaard said.

While the last time the two sides met, New Zealand won the encounter 61-41, Taljaard is confident the Spar Proteas have what it takes to overcome the reigning champions this time around.

New Zealand will be without the services of sharp-shooter, Grace Nweke, who was also ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to injury.

Nweke injured her knee in New Zealand’s final pool match against Singapore on Sunday, with Tiana Metuarau called up as her replacement.