After a mixed start to the season the Northern Mystics are on a points-grabbing mission over the next five weeks as they chase their first playoffs appearance in the transtasman league.
This weekend marks the beginning of the second phase of the competition, which involves only intra-country clashes for the
next five rounds. These could well prove to be the defining weeks for the 2010 ANZ Championship season, with the genuine semifinal contenders expected to emerge.
One of the quirks of the one-and-a-half-round draw - where New Zealand teams play each other twice and the Australian teams once - is that while the Kiwi teams generally struggle against their Australian opposition, there is still a good chance of having two sides from this side of the Tasman in the playoffs, given the competition here isn't as robust.
The next five rounds are therefore crucial for the Mystics' chances of making the playoffs and they must beat the likes of the Canterbury Tactix, Central Pulse and Southern Steel if they are to make an impact on the points table.
The Mystics' first target is the Tactix, who they meet today at Waitakere's Trusts Stadium.
While the Tactix were tipped to struggle this season, they have been playing some very solid netball and loom as a dangerous prospect for the talent-laden Mystics line-up.
The present record between these two teams is two-all, with their last three meetings being decided by an average of three goals.
ROUND 6
Saturday:
2.20pm Northern Mystics v Canterbury Tactix, Auckland.
Sunday:
4.50pm Queensland Firebirds v Melbourne Vixens, Brisbane.
Monday:
7.20pm Central Pulse v Southern Steel, Wellington;
10.05pm West Coast Fever v Adelaide Thunderbirds, Perth.
Bye: Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, NSW Swifts
