Former Australian netball coach Norma Plummer says a draw with champions Queensland has given her young Fever team a big shot of confidence ahead of the trans-Tasman competition which gets underway later this month.

The Perth-based side came closest to knocking over the Firebirds at a three-day pre-season tournament in New Zealand last weekend, holding them to a 36-36 draw.

Queensland thumped the Melbourne Vixens in the final by 20 points.

The Fever were the worst-placed of the Australian teams in the 2011 trans-Tasman competition, managing just three wins, while the Firebirds went through unbeaten, and are the only Australian team never to win the crown.

But the recruitment of Plummer, who was Diamonds’ coach for eight years and last July steered the side to the world championship title in Singapore, as well as veteran Test shooter Cath Cox, has dramatically brightened their prospects.

“We’ve got some sensational talent but they’re green so it was a great eye-opener for them at the weekend,” Plummer said.

“It was beyond expectations really. I was rapt.”

The wily coach was particularly happy that she was able to play her whole bench against the Firebirds and still manage the draw, which would have been a win but for a last-second goal by shooter Romelda Aiken.

“I thought they were the benchmark and I never even played Cox and (Australian shooter) Caitlin Bassett together,” Plummer said.

“They played their grand final line-up on for two quarters but I went with two totally different line-ups.”

Plummer is looking for a full contribution from all her players rather than concentrate on a starting side – a formula that brought such great success with Australia.

Cox also steered her new team to a win over her old side NSW and Plummer said she had been a great asset among the younger players.

“She’s doing an absolutely marvellous job and she had a good weekend and put out some beautiful netball.

“She’s doing a great job leading the team and they have so much respect for her because she has so much experience.”

The Fever open their season against Canterbury Tactix.