Magic all charged up for finals offensive

Things feel different in the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic camp this season and that has their coach "really excited" about what lies ahead as they head for the ANZ Championship finals.
Noeline Taurua was still smiling an hour after her side secured a double life finals play-off against Queensland Firebirds with a convincing 60-50 win over Central Pulse, at the Taupo Events Centre last night.
The only team to make all four ANZ Championship finals series, Magic head to Brisbane next week for their showdown against the unbeaten Firebirds. If they win, they will go straight to a home final. If they lose they will get another life, playing the winner of the other semifinal, between Northern Mystics and New South Wales Swifts.
So what's different this year that has Taurua so excited?
The "big pendulum swings" of the past have been reduced to "just a bit of a swing" this season, making for a better balanced team. Add to that the increased options off the bench and the coach is "really excited" about her team's finals prospects.
"Everyone's really amping at the moment - whatever happens next week, we'll be giving it our all."
Taurua has been positive about how her side has been tracking all season but is well aware of the competition history when it comes to the finals series. Gaining a place in the second-life match was "huge" but historically, whoever won that first play-off and went straight to the final went on to win the title, the week in between the likely difference, she said.
Earning that home final on foreign soil was going to take "a big team effort".
Taurua's sentiments echoed those of her players shortly after last night's entertaining victory in front of a capacity crowd in Taupo, although the players weren't as diplomatic when sharing their thoughts about what might happen next week against Firebirds.
"They are going down," Magic shooter Irene van Dyk declared after nailing 37 of her 39 attempts at goal.
"They'll be tough but yeah, they're going down," said defender Casey Williams, who was a top performer last night.
Midcourter Laura Langman admitted last night's performance wasn't "all pretty" and probably wouldn't have won them a match against Firebirds but she promised Magic would be "all guns blazing" next week.
The visiting Pulse did all they could to upset Magic last night with another gallant effort. A third quarter switcharoo by Magic - putting van Dyk out to goal attack - seemed to turn things to the home side's advantage and they put the foot down to romp home with the win, sending the bench on to the court for a spirited final few minutes.
Magic's first half was pretty helter-skelter but there was, as Taurua put it, "some beautiful stuff" in the second half.
Magic expect to get details today about next week's match, which looks set for Monday night and they will head for Brisbane the day before.