They are on the cusp of a series whitewash with an eye on regaining their World Twenty20 crown, but Meg Lanning is still desperately chasing Australia's perfect game.
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Lanning says the best is yet to come as Australia hunt for a Twenty20 series sweep against the New Zealand White Ferns at Manuka Oval on Friday night.
Lanning is adamant next month's World Twenty20 in the Caribbean hasn't crept into her mind, instead turning her attention to finishing this series with a bang and reversing a recent trend of falling away in tournaments.
The 26-year-old says the momentum gained from a 3-0 victory over the White Ferns would be the perfect tune-up before they set their sights on a record fourth World Twenty20 crown.
"We know our best game is still out there so that’s what we’ll be chasing," Lanning said.
"There’s no doubt, it’s a really big tournament coming up but we haven’t specifically spoken about the World Twenty20 at all.
"We’ve been really focussed on this series, and we’re very keen to put out our best game of the series [on Friday] night.
"We know momentum is a really big thing and we want to play our best cricket and get that going as much as we can. We’re looking forward to doing that.
"It’s something we’ve spoken about and we’re really keen to make sure we do finish off well. In the past we probably haven’t been as good as that as we would have liked, so the group is very focussed in terms of making sure we try to put out our best performance of the series so far."
The fact Lanning says Australia are yet to play their best game is an ominous statement made even scarier by their remarkable batting depth.
Ellyse Perry has been listed to come in at No. 7 through the opening two games of the series but she is yet to face a ball with the Australian side only required to use six batters to date.
An unassailable series lead gives Lanning and Australian coach Matthew Mott the option of tinkering with the batting lineup but they may opt against tinkering with a winning formula as they eye a clean sweep.
"We’ve always got options, I think we’ve got eight people in the team who open for their WBBL team," Lanning said.
"On any given day, anyone could bat anywhere. We feel like we’ve got a good mix at the moment, but it does depend on the game situation as to who goes in next.
"Ellyse Perry, down at seven, but she has been smashing the ball in the nets so if she does get a chance then I’m sure she’ll come out and do really well."
The White Ferns have seemingly run out of answers when it comes to stopping the Australian juggernaut but they may have stumbled upon a gem in 17-year-old leg-spinner Amelia Kerr.
Kerr - who boasts a record one-day international score of 232 not out - knocked over Lanning in game two to again leave New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite in awe.
"In a way you forget how young she is, you have to remind yourself she is still only a teenager," Satterthwaite said.
"She’s got a head on her like she has been in the game for a long time and like she is a lot older than she actually is.
"We’re very lucky we’ve got someone like that, that has a good temperament, and that she is able to produce match-winning performances for us as well.
"I hope she’s feeling really good about it, she’s able to knock over someone of [Lanning's] calibre a few times. We know what Meg is like as a player and I’m sure she will be working hard to ensure that doesn’t happen [again]."
TWENTY20 INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Friday: Australia v New Zealand White Ferns at Manuka Oval, 7.20pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
