By Stephanie Smarrelli
It is a case of so close, yet so far for the West Coast Fever and NSW Swifts.
The Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final is within their reach. One will seize the opportunity but the other will tumble at the final hurdle.
The winner of this weekend’s preliminary final battle will earn themselves a spot in the big dance against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
For the Fever the opportunity to extend their premiership reign awaits while for the Swifts they’ll hit the court on a mission to prove you ain’t seen nothing yet.
The Fever will take confidence into this week’s clash, coming off the back of a semi final victory over the Melbourne Vixens while the Swifts will be striving to ensure they don’t bow out in straight sets.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the preliminary final.
LAST CHANCE
It was a nailbiter the last time the Fever and Swifts went toe-to-toe.
The last match between the two sides went down to the wire. Swifts co-captain Maddy Proud was the difference between the two sides in the dying minutes with a well-timed deflection allowing shooter Romelda Aiken-George to level the scores before sealing the win.
The Fever were without vice-captain Jess Anstiss and go-to goal attack Sasha Glasglow but training partners Nat Butler and Jordan Cransberg stepped up to the occasion.
The biggest lead either team held throughout the match was the Fever with six goals.
Both teams have shooters capable of performing under pressure with Helen Housby and Glasgow prolific when it comes to slotting a long-range shot.
All eyes will be on the defensive ends of both teams with Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang standouts in the minor semi final. Bruce busted the game open in the final five minutes to lead her team to victory.
While for the Swifts the combination of Sarah Klau paired with Maddy Turner and Teigan O’Shannassy can be just as damaging.
Both side's defensive units will be under pressure to gain possession. The ability for defensive gains to be turned into goals is what the match is going to come down to and which players stand up in the big moments.
In the midcourt Fever’s Anstiss and Verity Simmons will have the tough job of shutting down Paige Hadley and Proud. However, the combination of Alice Teague-Neeld and Simmons will be just as hard for the Swifts to stop.
With Jhaniele Fowler a towering presence in the Fever’s goal circle, the Swifts will need to do everything in their power to force a turnover before the ball lands in her safe hands. The goal shooter finishing the minor semi final at 98 per cent accuracy.
Despite the closeness of their clash in Round 9, their previous meeting in Round 4 was a vastly different outing. The Fever dominated the match to win by 11 goals while the Swifts were still finding their groove.
With a spot in the grand final against the Adelaide Thunderbirds on the line, the match is primed to be another thriller.
There’s no tomorrow for the loser of the preliminary final, so the time for the Fever and Swifts to perform is right here, right now.
