Perry wants payback against fierce rivals

Ellyse Perry says Australia are determined to turn around their recent disappointing record against New Zealand as they prepare for the opening match of their blockbuster trans-Tasman T20I showdown this Saturday.

Australia have lost their last three T20I series against the White Ferns – including a 2-1 defeat on home soil in February last year – while they also lost to their fierce rivals during the group stage of the 2016 World T20.

But the Southern Stars will head into the Commonwealth Bank T20I Series ranked No.1 in the world and full of confidence that their 20-over game is on the right track, following a dominant victory in India in March.

"We're always keen to get back at the Kiwis or get one over them," Perry said at North Sydney Oval on Tuesday. "They're a great rival of ours, they've got some wonderful players.

"There's a little bit of unknown about their team, too; some new players and some fresh and exciting faces for them."

The three-match series will serve as a crucial opportunity for both teams to refine their 20-over games ahead of November's World T20 in the Caribbean.

There, they'll meet again in Guyana in what looms as a blockbuster group stage match on November 13.

But Perry was adamant the current series on home soil is no trial for the ICC tournament, particularly given the timing of the matches, scheduled as the first act of the home international summer to give the women's team maximum exposure.

"It's a really important three-game series for us especially leading into the T20 World Cup to get some momentum over them early in our own conditions before we go to the West Indies," Perry said at North Sydney Oval on Tuesday. "It's going to be a big challenge.

"(But) these are definitely not practice matches. We've played enough of those over the winter."

Their opportunity in the spotlight begins Saturday night, with the opening game at North Sydney Oval to be broadcast on Channel Seven and Fox Sports following the conclusion of the AFL grand final.

"This is one of the best opportunities we've had as a team to showcase what we can do (in front of) the Australian public and hopefully excite our fans and bring new fans into the sport," Perry said.

"These are really serious matches and it's a series within itself that we obviously really want to win."

The Australian squad has linked up in Sydney and the players begin their preparations for Saturday's game in earnest on Wednesday with a training session ahead of a warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI on Thursday.

"We've been talking about this series for a long time now and the fact it's almost here is pretty exciting," Perry said.

"We've had a wonderful preseason together and we've been building towards this for quite a few months across the winter.

"There's a real sense of anticipation and excitement."

Australia's opening match at North Sydney Oval on Saturday, September 29 will be followed by matches at Brisbane's Allan Border Field (October 1) and Canberra's Manuka Oval (October 5).

Every ball of the series will be broadcast live on Channel Seven, Fox Sports and cricket.com.au.

CommBank T20 INTLs v NZ 

Australia T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

September 29: First T20I, North Sydney Oval, Sydney

October 1: Second T20I, Allan Border Field, Brisbane

October 5: Third T20I, Manuka Oval, Canberra