Taking on an emotional Canterbury Tactix has danger written all over it, say Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic ahead of Monday's fourth round ANZ championship clash.
Magic are expecting the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquake to have bonded the Tactix into a tight unit and much more of an unknown quantity.
"It's
such a horrible thing to have happened," Magic attacker Jamilah Gupwell said. "We're lucky this game is going ahead and they will just want to get out there and play for Christchurch as well as for themselves and their families.
The Tactix's first home match since the destructive earthquake struck on February 22 was relocated to Rotorua, but all gate receipts will go to the Canterbury team.
There's an inner turmoil of a different kind for Magic - a form slump after a solid start to the season. Scraping home by two goals in their latest outing against the winless Central Pulse somewhat muted the celebrations of four days earlier following their heady win against Northern Mystics.
"It did bring us down to earth a little bit but I think we are still finding our feet," said Gupwell, who transferred from Pulse to Magic this season.
Occupying bottom spot in last year's competition, Tactix have shored up vulnerable areas with smart off-season signings in feisty shooter Donna Wilkins and seasoned Jamaican defender Kasey Evering, adding height and experience to both ends.
Coach Noeline Taurua is likely to stick with her policy of rotating Gupwell and Julianna Naoupu at goal attack as Magic look to make a clean sweep of first round clashes against New Zealand franchises.
"Julianna and I offer such different games, so there's no hard feelings or anything like that," Gupwell said.
"She's very dynamic in the circle and does a lot of work, almost like a conventional goalshoot, on the baseline whereas I tend to play more of a feeding role and work the top of the circle."
