Sunshine Coast Lightning v NSW Swifts
When: Saturday 28 July, 3pm
Where: USC Stadium, Sunshine Coast
Tickets: Purchase here
Broadcast: Live on Channel 9
The equation is simple for Lightning – win their remaining two games and they stand a good chance of making the finals. What will the mood be like in the Swifts camp? They had their season theoretically ended last week in a high-quality draw with the Collingwood Magpies and now have not much left to play for but pride. At home and with everything on the line, Lightning are going to be tough to contain. Will the Swifts lift to the occasion? Or will last weekend’s heartache, of drawing on the buzzer, follow them on the plane to Queensland?
West Coast Fever v Melbourne Vixens
When: Saturday 28 July, 7pm (local time)
Where: Perth Arena
Tickets: Purchase here
Broadcast: Telstra TV and the Netball Live app, GEM in WA only
After sitting in top spot all season, suddenly West Coast Fever’s grip on the minor premiership is not as secure as it was. A loss at home to the Firebirds last week has allowed the chasing pack to close in on them at the worst possible time. The Giants and Vixens sit behind Fever on the ladder and West Coast Fever must play them both in the final two rounds. The Vixens were beaten by Giants last week, but far from disgraced. It was a contest that had all the hallmarks of a final, but someone had to lose. Fever won’t like having their perfect record at home broken and will fight hard to ensure it doesn’t happen two weeks in a row. Toss a coin for this one, it is anyone’s contest.
Queensland Firebirds v Adelaide Thunderbirds
When: Sunday 29 July, 1pm
Where: Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Tickets: Purchase here
Broadcast: Live on Channel 9
After storming Perth Arena to take the huge scalp of the West Coast Fever last weekend, the Firebirds return to Queensland where they will meet the bottom-placed Adelaide Thunderbirds. Hindsight has shown that the win over the Fever was essential in keeping the Firebirds in the top four and now destiny is in their own hands. The Thunderbirds have not won a match all season and the only ‘home’ clash the Firebirds have lost this year, was the game when they moved to the Gold Coast. It looks ominous for the Thunderbirds, the Queensland team will desperately want to take all eight premiership points out of this match to finish as high up the ladder as they can. If they make any slip-up, then Lightning are waiting.
Collingwood Magpies v Giants Netball
When: Sunday 29 July, 3pm
Where: Hisense Arena
Tickets: Purchase here
Broadcast: Telstra TV and the Netball Live app
Collingwood Magpies’ season is over, but this is the final game that netball icon Sharni Layton will be playing in Melbourne ever, and they will want to make it a raucous occasion for the charismatic defender – who has given so much to the sport. The Magpies were tough and tenacious against the Swifts last weekend and will be looking to spoil the party for another Sydney club here. Giants will be hoping for a big result that could even propel them to the top of the rebel ladder. The Magpies will be looking to play spoiler and – depending on other results – a Collingwood win could even see the Giants bounced out of the top four.
