The Northern Force strategy is simple enough. Look after their own possession and treasure any other ball they get.
Whether it will be enough to combat the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic at the North Shore Events Centre tomorrow is the question.
The match is expected to be close, given
the sprinkling of Silver Ferns in both sides.
But the Magic could have an advantage at both ends of the court.
At one end there is the freakish Irene van Dyk who landed every one of her 48 attempts in the Magic's nine-goal win over the Diamonds last weekend.
At the other end the dynamic defensive duo of Casey Williams and Joline Henry will make life difficult for the Force despite being slightly shorter than their opponents (Catherine Latu and Daneka Wipiiti).
The Magic were possibly the most impressive side in the opening round. Their links through court were unrivalled, probably the result of retaining key players van Dyk, Laura Langman, Williams, Henry and Amigene Metcalfe.
The Force were shaky against the Rebels but have plenty of power on defence and through the midcourt. Their shooting has been a little erratic in the past, although the 18-year-old Latu shot 82 per cent in her National Bank Cup debut which will give the side plenty of confidence.
Wipiiti sat out last week's match with a thumb injury but she should be fit for tomorrow's game.
But defender Kate Dowling is having continuing problems with her Achilles tendon and is likely to miss the match, which means that reserve Linda Vagana may be called in again.
This could work to the Force's benefit as Vagana is extremely effective in restricting van Dyk.
Force midcourter Temepara George said her side would have to play to the Magic's weaknesses, but she admitted: "I don't know if there are many".
"Everyone plays different on different days, so it is what condition you get them in on the day that determines how the game pans out."
