Magic look for inner strength

Vixens' "inexperienced" tag doesn't wash with Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic coach Noeline Taurua.

Both teams head to tomorrow's ANZ Championship grand final in Melbourne on the back of excellent form and Taurua is expecting an "intriguing battle".

Vixens captain Bianca Chatfield has said the Magic's greatest strength is their experience.

However, Taurua says the Australian team, in particular their young shooters, have shown that regardless of any lack of experience, they can perform under pressure.

She says the Magic have also shown they can get themselves over the line in pressure situations and believes winning tomorrow will come down to who can do exactly that on the day. And that, she says, is what makes the grand final such an exciting prospect.

"It's very exciting and we are ready. Every week we have built on the previous game and that has made us very strong internally."

The behind-the-scenes emotions last week, when the Magic beat the Northern Mystics in extra time in the preliminary final just hours after shooter Irene van Dyk found out her mother had passed away, has only added to that internal strength.

"That strength is very powerful and it makes this bigger than the game itself.

"We are in the best possible position because of the journey we've gone through to get here ... the four losses at the start of the season were unexpected but forced us to live every word we spoke; we couldn't just turn up on the day and expect it to happen."

Taurua says playing "attacking netball" on offence and defence will be a key to success for the Magic.

"Vixens' defensive line-up have the ability to switch things up, so we'll need to be aware of that, and their centre, Madison Browne, will be in the middle controlling things while their shooters, as we know, can execute under pressure."

The Magic come into the game after an impressive 11-game winning streak and an extra-time victory in the preliminary final, while the Vixens will take confidence from their come-from-behind win over the Mystics in the major semifinal to book a sell-out home grand final.

Whatever the outcome tomorrow, history will be made.

The Magic will become the first New Zealand team to hold the title or the Vixens will become the first two-time champions.

Taurua says the Magic are heading into tomorrow's transtasman grand final in Melbourne in high spirits.

Making it to the ANZ Championship final feels like a second life, something to be celebrated rather than be scared about.

"We could just as easily not have made it, so we need to live in the moment and finish off our season as we intended."

The Vixens will look to interrupt the Magic's flow through the court to break down the strong attack links and minimise their opportunities.

Both teams have fashioned impressive comeback victories during the season and like her Vixens counterpart, Magic captain Laura Langman is expecting a huge battle.

She says the team will take Van Dyk's inspirational performance last week into the final.

"If we win it would mean a whole lot to a lot of people for many different reasons ... it's going to be massive."

Television coverage of tomorrow's final at Hisense Arena in Melbourne will start at 4pm.