There was plenty on the line in this clash, with both sides fighting to cement their place in the Rebel Sport top four.
The match also featured the shock return of Renae Ingles for the Vixens, the defender coming out of retirement and taking the court in the third quarter with her NBA star husband Joe Ingles watching on.
There were star performances across the court, with Vixens shooter Mwai Kumwenda (38/38 from the field) doing everything she could to haul her side over the line. But it was defence that won the match, with GIANTS centre Serena Guthrie named Nissan MVP.
Guthrie signalled her intent early, with three deflections in the opening four minutes to disrupt the Vixens ball movement. Despite her attention, the visitors were able to press the ball up to the goal circle with greater ease than the GIANTS – but little could separate the two sides on the scoreboard.
Emily Mannix snatched two key intercepts for the Vixens which allowed them to nudge ahead by two goals. The GIANTS fought back, but the Vixens had the final say of the first quarter to steal a 15-14 lead and the bonus point for the term.
The GIANTS were finding success in rotating Susan Pettitt and Harten in and out of the goal circle to keep the Vixens guessing, and it began to reap rewards in the second quarter as the home side edged ahead by two points.
It was high-quality netball from both sides and a see-sawing battle on the scoreboard, with both Kumwenda and Harten shooting perfectly from the field.
Defensive pressure from the GIANTS created options and they pushed their lead out to four, taking a 31-27 advantage into half-time and claiming the bonus point.
That lead was quickly slashed to one as Kumwenda kept her perfect shooting clip intact in a 4-1 Vixens run to open the third quarter. It was an intriguing game of chess being played by both coaches, subbing and swapping players for better match ups to steal the ascendency.
It was the GIANTS who claimed the honours for the quarter, pushing out to a 45-39 lead which set them up for victory.
Q1: GIANTS 14 v Vixens 15
Q2: GIANTS 17 v Vixens 12
Q3: GIANTS 14 v Vixens 12
Q4: GIANTS 13 v Vixens 12
Suncorp Super Netball premiership points
GIANTS 7
Vixens 1
GIANTS shooting statistics
Susan Pettitt 17/22
Jo Harten 24/28
Kristina Brice 17/20
Vixens shooting statistics
Mwai Kuwenda 38/38
Tegan Phillip 13/19
GIANTS starting seven
GS: Susan Pettitt, GA: Jo Harten, WA: Kim Green, C: Serena Guthrie, WD: Jamie-Lee Price, GD: Bec Bulley, GK: Sam Poolman
Vixens starting seven
GS: Mwai Kumwenda, GA: Tegan Phillip, WA: Liz Watson, C: Kate Maloney, WD: Khao Watts, GD: Jo Weston, GK: Emily Mannix
Nissan MVP: Serena Guthrie
