Asked in the pre-match coverage if the Mystics should keep the livewire midcourter around, Tania Dalton jokingly replied: "I think they should, and not just because I want the extra hours."
Magic
The Magic are fast becoming New Zealand's only hope of a place in the transtasman league playoffs. After a loss to the Pulse in their final outing before their bye, the Magic got back on track with a patient and composed performance against the Mystics.
The discipline coach Julie Fitzgerald has instilled in her team was evident once again against the Auckland side, with the Magic not getting sucked into playing at the Mystics' helter-skelter tempo.
Former Magic mentor Noeline Taurua, who popped up in the commentary box for the weekend's game, was full of admiration for what Fitzgerald had achieved with a new-look group in such a short space of time, graciously singing the praises of the veteran Aussie coach.
Pulse
While the Pulse knocked the Magic over a couple of weeks ago - the only side to do so this season - Robyn Broughton's side have a brutal finish to the season, taking on the Firebirds and the Fever across the Tasman over the final two rounds.
Pulse shooter Irene van Dyk will add another milestone to her long list of credits when she notches up her 100th ANZ Championship appearance tomorrow.
Van Dyk was just beaten to the big 100 by her former Magic teammate Laura Langman, who reached the milestone last weekend.
Magic captain Casey Kopua will also bring up her century on Sunday against the Thunderbirds, while Maria Tutaia (96 games), Vixens defender Geva Mentor (96) and the Fever's Natalie Medhurst (95) are all on track to hit 100 games this season.
While van Dyk, who turns 42 in June, has racked up every international playing record under the sun she said bringing up the century in the transtasman league will still be a special moment for her. "I think the older you get, the more you get to appreciate things, and running out every game I know I need to make the most of it because it's not going to last forever, so I make every second count."
Tactix
The Tactix' poor defensive record copped another massive blow on Monday night, with Steel super-shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Reid going on a scoring rampage.
Unstoppable under the post, Fowler-Reid helped the Steel amass a huge 77 goals, which saw the Tactix' goal differential blow out further in the wrong direction.
The Tactix have easily the worst defensive record in the competition, conceding an average of 68 goals a game - 25 goals more than the Vixens, who lead the competition. Not helping matters is the Canterbury side are down to three defenders having been unable to find a suitable replacement for Jess Moulds, who was ruled out for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
Steel
The scheduling gods weren't smiling on the Steel when they came up with the draw this year.
The Steel this week faced the toughest turnaround in the league - after dealing the Tactix a 16-goal hammering on Monday night, the southerners take the court again today against the NSW Swifts in Canberra. The tight scheduling meant the Steel did not return home after their game in Christchurch, heading straight to Australia to prepare for what will be a tough test against the star-studded Swifts.
With five mothers in the Steel line-up the road trip has proved a challenging logistical exercise.
In another curious piece of scheduling, the Steel will not have a bye until round 12, two rounds before the end of the regular season.
Across the ditch
Thunderbirds crash
The old curse of the premiers seems to have struck again, with the Adelaide Thunderbirds taking a dramatic slide down the leaderboard in recent weeks.
Their most recent effort - an ugly 38-goal loss to the Vixens - was so awful coach Jane Woodlands-Thompson was moved to apologise not only to their fans but "also the sport of netball".
Borrego has to find Magic
On paper it doesn't appear to get any easier for the Thunderbirds this week, with the Adelaide side to take on the second-placed Magic in Rotorua.
However, part of the reason for the Thunderbirds' mid-season slump has been the poor form of star shooter Carla Borrego, who appears out of sorts and low on confidence.
A trip across the Tasman may do the former Jamaican international some good, with Borrego typically performing well over here under the more conservative New Zealand umpires, who do not let as much go in the defensive circle.
Fever or Firebirds?
A fascinating re-match is on the cards this weekend with the Fever to meet the Firebirds in Brisbane, just two weeks after their shock, come-from-behind win over the Queensland side.
The Fever head into the match fresh off a bye, while the Firebirds bounced back with a 15-goal hammering of the Swifts last weekend to leapfrog the Fever back into the top four.
