SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):

Australia's netball captain Liz Ellis says her side is desperate to regain the number one world ranking from New Zealand when the World Netball Championship (WNC) is staged in New Zealand in November this year.

The Silver Ferns currently hold the top position and take on Australia over two Tests in Melbourne and Adelaide next month.

The Australians will also play two matches against top Caribbean side Jamaica as part of the same series.

Ellis said the matches will be vital in Australia's drive to return to the top.

"At the moment, it would mean absolutely everything to us. The Australian team doesn't like sitting at number two, we've sat there for four years, so it's really what we are focused on," Ellis said.

New Zealand beat Australia in the 2003 World Netball Champion-ship (WNC) final in Jamaica to capture the title and the world number one rating and they reaffirmed their superiority at the Commonwealth Games last year in Melbourne where they handed the home side their first ever Common-wealth Games loss en route to claiming the gold medal.

Two matches with Jamaica

Australia will meet Jamaica in two matches of the Holden Netball Test Series - on July 5, at the State Netball Hockey Centre in Melbourne, and on July 8 at the Sydney Sports Centre and they play on July 18 away to the Silver Ferns, who then travel to Australia for matches on July 21 and 24.

Before tackling the Australians, New Zealand will face Jamaica on July 12 and 14 in Christchurch and Auckland, respectively.