Netball: Magic pulling out stops for Swifts clash

Casey Williams asserts herself over the Steel's Daneka Wipiiti. Williams has shone among an increasingly settled Magic back three. Photo / Getty Images

After widespread criticism of their light training schedule throughout the season, the Magic have been hitting the court hard this week as they throw everything at chasing the transtasman league crown.

The Waikato/Bay of Plenty side will battle it out with the NSW Swifts in tomorrow's preliminary final for a chance to take on the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the ANZ Championship grand final.

With a shot at the title so tantalisingly close, the Magic's preparation for the Swifts showdown has taken on test-match intensity.

The Magic held a training camp over Wednesday and Thursday and will have another session in Newcastle today. The increased training load represents a marked difference to the team's preparation for what were ultimately doomed finals campaigns in previous years.

Magic coach Noeline Taurua said the decision to increase the number of practice sessions wasn't made in response to the flak her side have copped in the past two seasons over their training regime. She said it was more a reflection of where the team are at "mentally and physically".

The Magic, it seems, don't want to die wondering if they could have done more.

"Last year we were quite jaded physically and mentally, whereas this year there doesn't appear to be that. I don't know if it's a mental thing or what, but we see it as another opportunity. We want to make it our best game, so we've been making sure we give it our best training. We've upped the ante quite a bit," said Taurua.

As well as increasing the number of sessions, Taurua said the trainings have been much more rigorous, with a strong emphasis placed on quality.

Taurua said her side's attack end, which has often been the Magic's Achilles heel this season, has benefited from a lot of repetition in attacking drills.

"I still think they can get better. But the connections and the understanding is definitely coming," she said.

Watching on from the sidelines at practices this week has been defender Jodi Tod, who is unable to take full part in training after injuring her calf in the Magic's last encounter against the Swifts a few weeks back, when the Waikato side suffered a 17-goal hiding at the hands of the minor premiers.

The veteran defender will need to come through a fitness test today to have a chance of lining up against the Swifts.

Losing Tod would be a cruel blow for the Magic defensive end who have had to endure plenty of disruption this season. But since the arrival of English import Jade Clarke, the back three have been much more settled and as a result star defender Casey Williams has shone.

The Magic defence end will need to be at full-strength if they are to topple the Swifts, who are renowned for their slick and clinical execution on attack.

But the Thunderbirds last week demonstrated that if you apply enough pressure, cracks will start to appear in the Swifts' much-vaunted forward line. The Adelaide side stifled the Swifts attack by applying relentless pressure right through the court, and the Sydney side, previously unbeaten this season, crumbled to one of their worst-ever defeats. Such a heavy loss is unlikely to do much for the Swifts' confidence, but Taurua believes it has only made her side's job harder. She said the home side will come out with a lot more passion tomorrow after their disappointing performance last week.

"It's that old Australian way - they seem to have the mental fortitude to come back from these sorts of things. It just strengthens their inner being," she said.

"It's like they know they were below par and they're not going to stand for it again the following week."

FIERCE RIVALS
Preliminary final
NSW Swifts v Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic
Newcastle, 4.50pm tomorrow

Head-to-head record:
* 2008: Swifts 50 Magic 47
* Swifts 65 Magic 56 (grand final)
* 2009: Magic 63 Swifts 45
* 2010: Swifts 60 Magic 43

Season placings
* 2008: Swifts 1st, Magic 2nd
* 2009: Swifts 9th, Magic 3rd

2010 regular season
* Swifts: Played 13 won 13 lost 0; goals for 704 against 570; points 26 (1st)
* Magic: Played 13 won 9 lost 4; goals for 682 against 626; points 18 (3rd)

2010 finals series
* Qualifying semifinal: Swifts 38 Adelaide Thunderbirds 52
* Elimination semifinal: Magic 50 Southern Steel 42

Shooting statistics
* Swifts: Catherine Cox 365/493, 74.6 per cent; Susan Pratley 357/437, 82.5
* Magic: Irene van Dyk 481/516, 93.6 per cent; Jodi Brown 223/280 79.6