A breakthrough victory last week has Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic confident about heading into the first of a two-match Australian leg in their transtasman campaign.
Magic took a big step up in form to beat Melbourne Vixens in last week's ANZ Championships round, providing a real confidence boost heading into
their trip across the Tasman.
Keeping the momentum going will be key and with that in mind, Magic will stay in Australia between tonight's match against West Coast Fever in Perth and next Monday's clash with ANZ Championship frontrunners Queensland Firebirds.
Currently in second place on the competition table, Magic have set up camp in Perth where they will be looking to topple a Fever side who, despite languishing towards the bottom of the points table, can push any team on their day.
Magic became the first New Zealand team to win on Australian soil in Perth in 2009, the second year of the competition. They have never lost to Fever but last season beat them by only five goals.
Given the travel through time zones, Magic coach Noeline Taurua said her side might not be exactly "sparking" tonight but they will need to ensure they keep ball in hand on attack.
"The time zone changes muck around with the body clock a bit ... so we'll need to play really basic, simple netball but be very hungry. The aim is to add more points to the board," Taurua said.
"Fever are really tenacious and will go for every ball, and if you don't show heart and focus on ball retention they'll just snatch if off you ... for us [tonight] is about control, discipline, keeping focus and being really strong on the ball."
Now halfway through the competition and having shown real improvement in the last couple of games - even the one that ended in Mystics taking victory - Magic need to consolidate and will use their week in Australia to work on that.
"We're looking for two points from each of these two games in Australia."
