By Stephanie Smarrelli
Having been humbled by the Adelaide Thunderbirds last week, the Melbourne Vixens are desperate to bounce back and earn themselves a spot in the big dance.
But they will have to overcome an in-form West Coast Fever.
The winner of this weekend's Preliminary Final will earn their shot at premiership glory, but the loser will face another season of “what ifs”.
No stranger to a showdown, the two sides have met four times in an SSN Finals Series. The Fever have the upper hand, winning three of those encounters.
Both sides are hungry for their opportunity to take on the Thunderbirds in next weekend's Grand Final after missing out last year but only one will make it.
WILL THE FEVER OR VIXENS SURVIVE THE PRELIM?
After falling short in last year's Preliminary Final, Fever have worked hard all season to get back to the same spot.
With the most changes to their lineup of any team ahead of the season, Fever quickly proved despite the exodus they still hold a winning formula.
The Vixens finals run in 2023 was halted as it began by Fever. Bouncing back, they finished 2024 in the top two and earned their double chance despite a season hampered by injury.
The Fever will have to defeat the Vixens this weekend to make it past where they finished last year.When the two rivals last met in Round 13 only the slimmest of margins separated them, setting us up for what is sure to be a nail-biting Preliminary Final.
The Fever escaped the Vixens den victorious leaving a stunned John Cain Arena in their wake during Round 13, but the Vixens will have learned their lessons that day.
Now they meet again.
The Fever have proven they can beat the Vixens in their territory, but can they do it again with a Grand Final appearance on the line?
We're about to find out.
The Fever are the more in-form of the two sides having not lost a match since Round 11 and in Sunday's Minor Semi Final there were little chinks in their armour.
Pressure is on the Vixens as they have only won two out of their last five games.While the Vixens have some work to do after the Thunderbirds handed them their biggest loss of the season.
With Fever powerhouse Jhaniele-Fowler Nembhard shooting at an impressive 96 per cent for the season stopping the ball from reaching her will be priority number one for the Vixens.
The Vixens attack will also need to absorb the finals pressure this weekend better than they did in the Major Semi Final. The side's trademark clinical play was missing as they tallied up their season high for general play turnovers with 26.
Based on form it really is the Fever's game to lose but you'd be silly to write off a fired-up Vixens outfit in front of their home crowd. The Vixens’ mental ability to put last week behind them will be just as crucial as what they physically do on the court.
The last time the two teams met, youngster Lily Graham ignited slotting six Super Shots to almost give the Vixens the win and Zara Walters dominated the midcourt with 48 feeds.
Fever will need to up the ante and put pressure on the duo to keep the Vixens at bay when they're injected into the game.
Fever are almost unstoppable once the ball reaches Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard.Origin Diamonds shooting duo Sophie Garbin and Kiera Austin are also proven match winners, despite not having the desired impact last weekend the Fever will pay close attention to them throughout the match.
Fever defender Kadie-Ann Dehaney will be instrumental to interrupting the Vixens path to goal, her impeccable timing has enabled her to get her fingertips onto the ball for 56 deflections throughout this season, eight of those against the Vixens in Round 13.
Both teams have what it takes to go all the way, but only one will meet the Thunderbirds at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Saturday August 3.
