KEY POINTS:
Pre-season predictions that the Australian franchises would dominate the ANZ Championship will be put to the test in tonight's highly anticipated transtasman netball showdowns.
Competition favourites the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic take on the highly regarded Adelaide Thunderbirds in Rotorua, with the NSW Swifts and Southern Steel doing battle in Sydney in tonight's late game.
Questions were raised in the lead-up to the competition over whether the New Zealand franchises would be able to match the speed and guile of the Australian attackers.
While not all the answers will be provided in tonight's games, with all four teams expected to be semifinal contenders it will be a good gauge of how competitive the league will be.
Magic coach Noeline Taurua is happy to face one of the dangerous Australian franchises first at home and with New Zealand umpires while teams are still in the settling-in phase.
With Australian internationals Natalie Medhurst (shooter), Natalie von Bertouch (midcourt) and Mo'onia Gerrard (defence) on the court, the Thunderbirds are further boosted by the presence of well-performed England defender Geva Mentor.
"The good thing about meeting them early is that their connections won't be as good as they will be later on," Taurua said. "There is an uncertainty coming up against the Australian style and, with the polish not quite there yet, it will come down to team structure and discipline with the ball."
Likewise, tonight's late game between the Swifts and the Steel is expected to be taken by the team with the most disciplined, error-free performance. After an opening-round punctuated by messy, high-turnover netball, it appears the more clinical and well-drilled sides will triumph in earlier rounds over teams with flair. There is a certain amount of symmetry between the Steel and the Swifts outfits. The two sides are reigning title-holders in their previous respective national league competitions.
But both have lost a great deal of firepower. The Swifts' defensive end has lost some potency with the retirement of Australian great Liz Ellis and the defection of Gerrard to the Thunderbirds.
Meanwhile, the Steel's attack end has taken a hit with Silver Fern star Adine Wilson's exit to have a baby and inspirational shooter Donna Wilkins retiring. The Magic take on the Thunderbirds at 7pm in Rotorua, followed by the late game at 9pm.
