The Mainland Tactix and Southern Steel still have plenty to play for in the last round of the ANZ Premiership despite already booking a place in the finals series.
Tactix player Te Paea Selby-Ricket. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Tactix and Steel will meet in the elimination final on 1 August, with the winner progressing to the grand final against the Northern Mystics in Auckland on 8 August.
Home court advantage for the elimination final is on the line in the last round of the regular season when the Steel play the defending champion Central Pulse in Invercargill on Saturday and the Tactix host the the minor premiers the Mystics on Sunday.
The team that finishes the round robin in second place will host the elimination final. Both the Tactix and Steel are locked on 30 points.
For Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek the opportunity to bring more netball to the Christchurch-based fans that missed out last season, due to Covid-19 forcing the majority of last season to be played in a hub in Auckland, would be special.
"Having your own people having that ability to be at the game is huge and we've obviously had a really good record at home so far, so this weekend that game is really important for us because that's something we would like to achieve for our community," Delaney-Hoshek said.
Tactix player Karin Burger with fans during their ANZ Championship Netball game. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Finalists last season, the Tactix had a slow start to 2021 but are now on a five-game winning streak.
Delaney-Hoshek puts the recent consistency down to having a squad of fit players to choose from, after needing to manage injuries earlier on.
She also freely admits she is a perfectionist and will keeping pushing the players.
"When you do have those losses early it does force you to have a look at what your processes are and we've evolved to I think, so style-wise we've evolved, we're getting the best out of us now and I still think we can go better though."
The Tactix and Mystics have shared the spoils so far this season with a win each - with both games decided by one goal.
The two sides have not played since May and Delaney-Hoshek expected another tight game on Sunday.
Delaney-Hoshek was confident against the Auckland-based side but was preparing for a few surprises from the visitors.
"It'll be interesting because they are already assured [a place in the final], whether they put some different things out combination-wise that they're wanting to try out because the game for them doesn't have a great bearing or whether they're just wanting to get that consistent performance because they did drop off at the end of the last game."
Southern Steel's Shannon Saunders. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Steel snuck into the elimination final with a one-goal victory in their penultimate round robin game against the Stars and are planning to fill the stands at ILT Stadium Southland on Saturday for what could be their last home game of the season.
Extra seating is available for the game against the Pulse, with the upper stands of the stadium opened for the first time since 2016 for a regular season fixture.
Involving the community was also important for the Steel.
The franchise had been fostering connections with netball centres throughout the Netball South Zone - including in Winton, Gore, Balclutha, North Otago and Invercargill - this season.
The Steel must beat the Pulse for a third time this season to have a chance of securing another home game for those fans.
The two times the sides have met this season the Steel have won 56-52.
They need a big win to give them a chance of hosting the sudden death match against the Tactix on 1 August. .
"Obviously our crowd is the best in the country and it would be such a privilege to have that game here," Steel captain Shannon Saunders said.
She pointed to the Steel's discipline and ability to keep ball in hand which was behind their win over the Stars and something they hoped to continue through the finals series.
"It is part of the Steel culture. If it takes 100 passes, it takes 100 passes. It's not going to be the prettiest of netball at times but we don't care as long as we can get it through the hoop."
In the other final round game the Stars host the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in south Auckland.