It is make or break for the Magic

BIG CONTEST: The Magic are in need of a positive result on Monday. Magic defender Casey Kopua (right) faces off against Pulse shooter Irene van Dyk. PHOTO/FILE

Lost opportunities have left Kia Magic in desperate need of a positive outcome in their ANZ Championship netball rematch with Mainland Tactix in Tauranga on Monday.

Back-to-back losses in their latest outings to Southern Steel and Central Pulse have twice denied Magic the opportunity of the outright lead in the competition.

Four teams now sit on equal points on top of a tightly-packed leaderboard, Magic occupying second place on goal percentages.

With three rounds of the regular season remaining, any slip-ups now could prove dire as the jockeying for final positions ahead of the playoffs heats up.

"The Tactix is huge for us," Magic assistant coach Margaret Forsyth said. "We need a win and to position ourselves on that table regarding goal ratios, we need a sizeable win."

After an impressive start to the season, Magic have gone off the boil in recent weeks, losing their accuracy and composure on attack.

With Tactix steadily improving as a unit throughout the season, and playing with confidence, they can be expected to have a decent crack against Magic.

Magic opened their 2014 campaign with a 70-46 triumph over the same opponents.

"It's certainly not a lack of belief or a lack of preparation on our part," Forsyth said.

"We've gone into those matches ready to go. For some reason when we're looking at penetrating on attack and letting the ball go, we're getting a bit conservative.

"It's something we need to push through and have the courage to feel the fear and do it anyway, and keep looking down and keep letting the ball go."

According to Forsyth, it won't take much adjustment to turn Magic's fortunes around but requires all players doing their bit.

"I think the secret to our success so far has been our ability to play as a team," she said.

"We don't have a team of stars but we've been able to play really well as a team with everyone stepping up and delivering 150 per cent all game.

"We've lost our way in the last couple of matches, and now we need to get everybody back delivering that output and that accuracy for 60 minutes."