Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie believes her side can challenge for the top four in this year's ANZ Championship.
The Pulse has finished bottom since the trans-Tasman competition was launched in 2008 – winning just one game in the two seasons so far - but McCausland-Durie is upbeat about her team's chances after bringing in experienced trio Ama Agbeze, Jane Altschwager and Katrina Grant to bolster the core of the squad retained from last year.
"Based on the pre-season results it's definitely realistic," McCausland-Durie said of her aspirations.
"We're pretty clear we need to win one of our matches against each of the New Zealand teams and we need to win at least two of our homes games as well to give ourselves a shot at being inside the top six. Once you get inside there anything is possible."
Altschwager, the former Adelaide Thunderbirds shooter, has replaced Cushla Lichtwark as captain, while in the defensive end the acquisition of former Melbourne Vixen and England international Agbeze and Silver Fern Grant has helped to overcome the loss of Jamaican Althea Byfield to the Northern Mystics.
McCausland-Durie said the experience the trio brought to the franchise was already paying dividends.
"For each of them they have come with a little bit of a different approach in terms of how we can do things better but with a real keenness to help make the Pulse a success," said the coach.
Their arrival also meant players used to being automatic selections in the starting line-up last year were now being put under pressure.
"We've seen a lot of progress from our seven that we retained. They've shown a huge amount of progress in their performances because there is a challenge now to make the court. The player depth is an area that has grown hugely."
The Pulse has had a solid pre-season with a three-win, two loss record in Queenstown where it defeated the Mystics, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Canterbury Tactix.
While it failed to win a match at the 2010 Netball Cup in Sydney it pushed all five of the Australian franchises and the Southern Steel hard with the margins of defeat ranging from one to seven goals.
The Pulse kicks off its season on Monday night against the Tactix in Christchurch buoyed by its success in Queenstown.
"While that doesn't count for a huge amount it gives you a psychological advantage," McCausland-Durie said.
"But we are really aware they've got some good strengths, particularly in their attacking end. They've got some experience now in their defensive end and they won't lie down for us.
"Everyone is going to be wanting to get that first win under the belt."