Netball: First home game follows Magic start

England international Jo Harten top scored for Kia Magic with 29 goals in last week's season opening win against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.

Top class netball returns to the ASB Arena tonight with the Kia Magic hosting the NSW Swifts in round two of the ANZ Championship.

After a subdued pre-season, the Magic caused the opening round upset last weekend in defeating the highly regarded Adelaide Thunderbirds away in Adelaide. What is more, they did it with a team full of new players and lost gun centre Courtney Tairi with a season-ending injury during the thrilling 45-44 victory.

Winning on determination and character has always been the hallmark of teams coached by Australian Julie Fitzgerald. In her second season as Magic's head coach those virtues are fundamental to this year's campaign.

"It is very, very hard to win (in Adelaide) and they have a very parochial crowd and they know their netball," Fitzgerald said.

"They really got behind their team in the last five minutes. For us, having sustained the injury to Courtney and having the Thunderbirds coming at us, I was very pleased we were able to hold on with our young players on the court and come away with a win."

Despite losing Tairi with a serious Achilles injury, Fitzgerald is happy with the depth she has in her squad to cover.

"At this stage we haven't replaced Courtney. I am not closing the door on that but we are almost inclined to continue working with what we have got. Against the Thunderbirds Kristiana (Manu'a) and Malia (Paseka) are the two who got a lot of accolades for the game and I do think they played particularly well. Kristiana grew throughout the game and Malia withstood quite a bit of pressure in those last few minutes. But for Sam Sinclair to come on with 12 minutes to go in such a tight game was a big effort from her as well."

Fitzgerald is expecting a tight contest with the NSW Swifts who won their opening game in Invercargill against the Southern Steel.

"The Swifts have bought extremely well and have a very strong team. They have no weaknesses in any area of the court. We know we are up for a very big challenge."

Tonight's match is the first of two consecutive home games at ASB Arena for the Magic, with defending champions the Melbourne Vixens next Sunday night's opponents.

Fitzgerald says her team love playing at the ASB Arena and is hoping for two full houses to help roar them on to vital early season wins.

"It is a great stadium to play in. The crowd is so close to you and they always get behind us. I love the atmosphere at that stadium."