An injury cloud remains over Diamonds midcourter Jamie-Lee Price as Australia aims to avoid the humiliation of an unprecedented Constellation Cup whitewash to New Zealand.
Price has been sidelined since game two of the four-match series after picking up a calf injury, with Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich admitting her return appeared unlikely.
The defensive midcourter was sorely missed as world netball's No.1 outfit suffered a 52-49 loss to relinquish the Constellation Cup to the Silver Ferns in Sydney on Sunday.
Set to finish the series in Melbourne, Marinkovich's Diamonds face the unwanted prospect of becoming the first Australian side to lose all four Constellation Cup games since the two countries began competing for the trophy in 2010.
Price was joined on the sidelines at Afterpay Arena by defender Matilda Garrett, who won't make her return for Wednesday's final game at John Cain Arena.
"Tilly (Garrett) is definitely out with concussion. Once you get that ruling, that's taken her out of the tournament," Marinkovich said.
"It's probably a tough one for Jamie as well at this point in time.
"It's been a bit up and down in terms of what we've had available.
"But at the same time, this is about the depth, the growth, and you maximise opportunities and players are stepping out there and taking them."
Marinkovich is at least hopeful centre Kate Moloney hasn't suffered a series-ending injury.
Moloney dislocated a finger on her left hand less than 30 seconds into the game after a contest with Silver Ferns counterpart Kate Heffernan.
The Diamonds vice-captain had already missed game one after needing 12 stitches for a laceration on a different finger on the same hand.
She came off the bench with six minutes remaining in the final quarter, but was unable to prevent Australia's capitulation.
"It's a different finger, so the one that's stitched up is still together," Marinkovich said of Moloney's injury.
"I haven't actually got what happened. I just got tapped on the shoulder and said she'd be good to go again.
"We'll get that information, but obviously not too bad at this stage because I was able to put her back out there."
Diamonds captain Liz Watson had taken over centre duties for Moloney across the first two games, but was benched for sub-par performances.
Back on home soil, Watson rediscovered her best to finish with a game-high 15 gains and 34 feeds.
