Code-hopper Gretel Tippett is perfectly suited to the brazen world of netball's equivalent to rugby sevens or Twenty20 cricket, and will be recalling her formative years as a basketballer as the Diamonds look to prise New Zealand's iron grip from the only international trophy Australia are yet to stow in their bulging cupboard.

Fast 5 is perfect for goal attack Tippett. It's five-a-side just like basketball, there are deeper shooting zones offering two and even three points, and, just for good measure, each side enjoys a powerplay quarter where all points are doubled.

But it's the extra space on offer that has the 23-year-old feeling right at home after switching codes in 2012.

"It's a fun, fast and exciting brand of netball that allows us to play a little less structured and have a little bit more flair out there on court," Tippett said.

"The fact that both teams are in the contest the whole game, it's a quick six-minute quarter and with your powerplays as well, teams can't really get away from each other so it's always going to be a tight match.

"I haven't looked back since switching over. I'm absolutely loving it.

"Every time I step out on the court it's a challenge and it's something that really drives me. Every time I step out there I know I've still got improvements to make."

The two-day tournament will squeeze 18 games into the weekend.

And despite the carnival element to the competition, Tippett said there was an underlying determination for Australia to end their Fast 5 hoodoo.

"It's really important and something that's driving us girls this week in training for the weekend," Tippett said.

"We really want to get the gold, we've come runner-up too many times and the New Zealand team are very good at this game.

"Being the first time it's been played in Australia and also home crowd advantage I think will hopefully help lift us. We'll be giving it everything out there."

Australian netball legend Liz Ellis said Tippett was shaping as Australia's secret weapon.

"It's been extraordinary, to go from not having played netball five years ago to now being on the starting seven for the Diamonds in this Fast 5 team, she's great to watch," Ellis said.

"The more open nature of the court really suits her, fewer players allow her to do a lot more running.

"Gretel's really good defensively and I think that's something that gets underplayed a little bit and it's really important in something like Fast 5."

FAST 5 - HOW IT WORKS