A global pandemic has meant the 2020 ANZ Premiership has by far been the longest domestic season any of the country's elite netball players have experienced.
On Sunday it will come to a conclusion when the Mainland Tactix take on the defending champions Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse in Invercargill.
Aliyah Dunn of the Pulse shoots over Jane Watson of the Tactix. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The grand final too, couldn't escape the impacts of Covid-19, with the game not able to be played in front of a crowd.
Including the pre-season, it's going on 10 months for players and Tactix goal shoot Te Paea Selby-Rickit said it had been physically taxing.
"There's a few of us now our bodies are just holding together, a couple of wee niggles that we're trying to stay on top of but that's just fatigue. It has been a long season, we started in early November last year and trained right through lockdown and things like that so yeah the bodies are pretty tired but we're managing it and we'll be firing to go on Sunday," the Silver Fern said.
Sunday will be Kelly Jury's first ANZ grand final, having moved to the Pulse from the Magic last year.
Jury admits it's been a weird build up to a grand final but she's relieved they are getting the chance to play it.
"Hundred percent, also that you know it's been a really long build up I think we've been going for 10 months now, probably the longest season ever. But to be in a position where we set out to be 10 months ago being in the grand final was our goal as well as being the top qualifier so now the last goal to achieve is just to win it," Jury said.
A limited number of family and friends are being allowed into the venue and Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said they were grateful they would have a few supporters there.
''It would have been a pretty interesting spectacle otherwise. But a grand final is a grand final and we've got to get up for it and make sure that we make the most of it because it's a huge privilege to make it and to be given the opportunity, we've played a whole season despite the changes to it, it's huge and we want to make sure we finish well," McCausland-Durie said.
Covid-19 brought the league to a screaming halt in March - after only one round had been played.
Yvette McCausland Durie is stepping down from the Pulse following the grand final. Photo: Photosport
When the competition resumed in June, the next six rounds were played in Auckland.
Home and away games then returned and Invercargill was picked for the play-offs, when all of the teams were expected to head there.
The final round of regular season was called off last weekend when Covid-19 resurfaced in Auckland.
Tactix coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek said the odd build-up to their first ever grand final kind of encapsulated their year.
The franchise had to go into voluntary liquidation as the financial impacts of Covid-19 started to bite in April.
Marianne Delaney-Hoshek just extended her term with the Tactix for another three years. Photo: Photosport
Delaney-Hoshek lost all her support staff and her side only got one home game, but it hasn't affected their on court performances.
She said her side had been building each week.
"It did take a little bit of time at our attack end and it generally does in a season. We sort of knew once we got it all together we'd be amazing but it took a little bit of work to get to and I guess we knew we had to win those last games. Sometimes when your back's against the wall you do the best thing so it's been really cool to see how much progress the girls have made."
Delaney-Hoshek said they had good momentum going into the final.
"We've obviously won a few games in a row, we're expecting the Pulse are going to be very tough in that final and they obviously have some finals experience which we don't have but we just want to go out there and do the best we can and go for the win."
Selby-Rickit said her team had shown they could compete with the Pulse.
"We've had a couple of really good games against them. Obviously the last one they had a couple of missing players but we still put out a strong performance and I definitely think we can build on that and if we can do our own jobs well on Sunday I think we definitely have the potential to win it."
Jury said knowing most of the Pulse players had been involved in a grand final, gave her confidence.
"That's a huge booster, the girls know how to win in those pressure moments and it definitely is a big occasion, that we really want to come out on top," Jury said.
Delaney-Hoshek said she had been thrilled with the form of Temalisi Fakahokotau and Erikana Pedersen, who were out last year with injury.
"For those girls it's really difficult having that year off and for her [Fakahokotau] she was in the Ferns when she did the injury so it's not great mentally. Erikana has come out about her issues with mental health over the last year when she had her injury and it was the same for Temalisi, it was hard. It's just great to see them out there enjoying playing and getting back to what they were prior to the injury."
McCausland-Durie said they would have to play well to hold off the fast improving Tactix.
"We've watched them continue to build throughout the rounds so we think they've got huge potential everywhere. We have to be really confident in our group, we've been together a while.
"This is the fourth time a number of us have been in a grand final and we've got to use that experience wisely to make sure that we can counter them but certainly have a huge respect for what they've achieved and the potential they've got in this grand final."
McCausland-Durie believes the Pulse have also made significant strides this year.
"The speed on attack and that constant movement has been key for us along with the use of possession and reducing our loss rate and I think for me our shooters are extremely strong and that's been a real positive for us in tight matches."
The grand final at ILT Stadium starts at 6:50pm on Sunday.