“Now our aim is to finish fifth in the competition,” Ngatapa coach Kate Faulks said.
“We want to finish our season well by playing good netball in our final few games.
“Lytton went very close to Whangara last week and we are aiming to do the same tonight.”
Whangara coach Ronnie Martin has developed solid depth across her squad and that has borne fruit in recent games.
Martin will no doubt want her starting line-up to settle much quicker tonight.
They have had slow starts lately and would be vulnerable against the likes of the hard-starting YMP (1).
Tonight will be an opportunity to start the way they intend to carry on, and make the most from the outset of their attacking flair.
The second match tonight, at 7.45pm, pits YMP (1) against Horouta Gold.
YMP (1) can be expected to carry their rampant form of late into this match.
YMP coach Ingrid Brown has her team humming, as shown by their ruthless efficiency last time out against Taste One High School Old Girls.
Brown was delighted with the way her whole squad contributed in that match.
Like Martin with Whangara, she continues to develop the effectiveness of her bench. The impending clash between YMP and Whangara is a mouth-watering prospect.
Horouta, on the other hand, will be pumping after their upset victory over Claydens Waikohu last Saturday.
It was their best performance of the season to date and, while they had several second-team players on court, it was the sort of form sides strive for as the competition approaches the business end.
Horouta remain on track to realise their goal of a top-four finish and they will want to do everything they can to maintain that momentum.
However, YMP (1) are a different proposition.
Horouta will need to capitalise on as many turnovers as possible, treasure their own ball, and play for the full hour to cause an even bigger upset.
Two more games will be held in the YMCA tomorrow night, with the students’ teams in action against HSOG and Waikohu.