State vs state showdown you can't miss

With only two rounds left of the regular season, teams are fighting for final standings.  

The top four may be solidified but there is no room for error for the NSW Swifts, Adelaide Thunderbirds and West Coast Fever who all stand a chance at placing in the top two - meaning they'll have a double chance come finals time.  

The Melbourne Vixens are safe in fourth, but their recent form is cause for worry and they will want to turn it around before heading into finals. 

If last week showed us anything, it’s that regardless of ladder position, every team is capable of winning. There are no certainties this round, the bottom four teams may have nothing to lose, all the pressure being on those top four teams. 

Here's what you need to know ahead of Round 13.

STATE VS STATE SHOWDOWN

The Swifts may be the ladder leaders, but after their strong Round 12 win against the Vixens, the Firebirds won’t view this match up as an impossible task.  

Last week, it was the Firebirds defenders who played a key role by shutting down Vixens shooters. They will have their work cut out for them this time around, as almost every team has struggled to stop Swifts’ goaler Romelda Aiken-George. She is proficient in holding her ground under the net, she is well supported by Helen Housby in GA, making it even more difficult. 

The Swifts' impressive midcourt will be looking to dominate, but since Leesa Mi Mi has already proven she can match up against current Diamonds players, the outcome may differ from what’s expected.  

If Remi Kamo and Ruby Blakewell-Doran can limit the impact of Aiken-George, then it will be up to Donnell Wallam and Emily Moore to provide sufficient scoring down the other end. They were happy to settle for ones last week, but if they are to stand a chance against the Swifts, they will likely need the extra goal.  

Despite sitting on top of the ladder, the Swifts are not safe. They will need to win this game if they are wanting to hold on to top spot.  

REST OF THE ROUND

The Thunderbirds will be keen to redeem themselves after suffering a close loss to bottom of the ladder, the Collingwood Magpies. However, this round’s opponents, the Sunshine Coast Lightning, only narrowly lost last round to a strong West Coast Fever team – showing their ability to contest with the best.  

Diamonds squad members Cara Koenen and Steph Wood are key to the Lightning being successful but will have plenty of pressure on them – Thunderbirds defenders Shamera Sterling and Latanya Wilson are a tough task to take on.  

While the Fever are running out of time to work their way into a top two finish, every game counts from now on. In saying that, they are the favourites going into this round’s game against the GIANTS.  

Although the GIANTS are out of finals contention, they will be keen to finish their season strongly. They took it to the Swifts in round 12 and finished just shy of an upset, considering the Fever are below the Swifts, the GIANTS should see this as a winnable game.

As always, Jhaniele Fowler will be a problem to stop, but if Amy Parmenter, Jamie-Lee Price and Maddie Hay can do a good enough job in the midcourt to prevent her getting the ball then they may be in with a chance.  

And a few weeks ago, there wouldn’t have been a question as to who would win this game, but round 12 has thrown a spanner in the works and now it’s anybody’s game.  

The Vixens are coming off the back of a loss to the Queensland Firebirds, a team they were expecting to beat. For the entire game, however, it was the Firebirds who were in control and playing like a finals team – despite sitting second from the bottom on the ladder. The Vixens will need their goalers to step up and get their mojo back, especially heading into finals. 

Now, if the seventh team can beat a top four team, then who’s to say the team sitting eight can’t as well. In fact, the Magpies will be ready and roaring to take on the Vixens, riding the confidence from their huge upset over the Adelaide Thunderbirds – the top team!  

This will be an emotional game for all involved, it being the Magpies last  game in Melbourne before they head to Tasmania for Round 14.