By Stephanie Smarrelli
As we close in on the season’s halfway point, we’re getting a clearer picture of where the competition stands.
The Swifts are on top and early premiership favourites but there’s plenty of netball left to play.
And this weekend, the limelight is on the Thunderbirds and Fever.
The reigning premiers' mission for a threepeat is back on track but Fever are determined to spoil their winning streak before it begins.
The Thunderbirds have won four out of their last five meetings but apart from a Round 9 blowout last year, only one goal has separated the two teams.
This weekend it really is anyone's game.
Thunderbirds and Fever are both trying to cement their spots in the top four.The biggest battle to watch out for will be between Fever bookend Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard and whoever Tania Obst decides to give the nod to in goal keeper in the absence of Shamera Sterling-Humphrey.
Matilda Garrett was a standout in the GK bib against the Mavericks last weekend and is a likely choice.
But Lantanya Wilson is closer to Fowler-Nembhard in height and has experience alongside the Jamaican goaler in the Sunshine Girls. While she doesn’t don the GK bib often it is in her repertoire.
Leading the league for intercepts, Wilson will need to have a big game to halt Fever’s path into the goal circle.
Sanmarie Visser won’t shy away from the challenge either, the South African defender is still finding her feet in the league and who better to challenge your skills against than arguably the world’s best.
Up front, the Thunderbirds will rely heavily on Lauren Frew and Georgie Horjus.
Both goalers can drain the long bombs and had solid outings against the Firebirds last weekend.
On the flipside, Fever’s pressure across the court has been strong this season, Kadie-Ann Dehaney has been leading the charge for the side with 23 deflections.
Captain Jess Anstiss also heads into the match up in great form, named joint MVP last weekend.
The winner of this match up will continue to cement their position in the top four while the loser will have some work to do to remain in the top.
REST OF THE WEEKEND
Round 6 begins down in Tassie with the Mavericks taking on the Firebirds in a must-win clash for both sides.
Both the Mavericks and Firebirds are in need of a win this weekend.
The Mavericks came out on top in their meetings last season, but the Firebirds’ refreshed lineup could pose a new challenge.
The Melbourne side have the worst defensive record in the league after five rounds conceding 68 goals per match.
But a massive loss to Fever last weekend could be the wake up call the Mavs needed to reignite their season.
The Firebirds though are in a similar spot after falling to the reigning premiers last round.
They’ve slipped out of the top four and will be desperate to bounce back.
Sunday brings the NSW showdown with the GIANTS set to take on the Swifts.
The outlook for the GIANTS isn’t pretty with the last five matches all going the way of the Swifts.
The GIANTS will be determined to win this weekend.
In fact, the last time the GIANTS defeated their rivals was Round 1 of 2022 and the Swifts are in red-hot form recording their best start to an SSN season ever with five wins.
But strange things happen in sport, it’s unpredictable and the underdog GIANTS could send shockwaves through the competition this weekend.
Then closing out the round, the Vixens host the Lightning, it’s a critical clash for both sides.
With the Grand Final in their own backyard, the Vixens need to start climbing the ladder if they’re a chance of featuring in the league’s biggest day again this year.
While the Lightning need to start pulling together back-to-back wins, they’ve been in the top four thus far, but the competition is beginning to climb the ladder underneath them and it’s only a matter of time before they catch up.
